A lot of people are seeing to it that Jamie McHenry is not forgotten. After the 13-year-old was struck and killed by a car, his family started a foundation in his honor. Given Jamie’s passion for lacrosse, the foundation has provided students with lacrosse equipment and scholarships. A $10,000 donation is going to construct a new entranceway to the Centennial High School stadium. Perhaps nothing has done more to keep Jamie’s memory alive than Team 8, a club team from around the metro area. Each player’s jersey incorporates an 8, Jamie’s number, but no one wears just that number. “We miss him every second of every day,” said Jamie’s mom, Christine, “but keeping the foundation going and giving back to the community is our way of still taking care of him.”
Q: Tell us about your son.
A: Jamie was such a great kid, so full of life, character and confidence. He was quick-witted, with a great sense of humor. He loved all sports, as both a participant and a spectator, but his true passion was lacrosse. A coworker gave me his grandson's used lacrosse sticks and Jamie, who was 4 years old at the time, never let go of them. He also taught his sister, Emily, how to play.
Q: Can you talk about his death?
A: Jamie went with the family of his best friend, Nick, to Florida for spring break — it was his first big trip away from us. He and Nick were crossing the street to what I picture as a kids' heaven — a strip mall with an ice cream parlor, an arcade and a surf shop. A driver hit Jamie and he was killed instantly. Almost four years later, it still seems so unreal. I guess it always will.
Q: How is Nick doing?
A: I put that question to Nick and this is what he texted back: "I am always remembering Jamie in everything I do. Every game, I write his initials on my wrist tape. I always had great friends and leaders to help me cope with the loss of my best friend."
Q: Can you talk about the foundation?
A: We formed a nonprofit to raise money to give back to the local sports community. Every August, we host our fundraiser, The Rocketshot 5K, at Centennial High School. Jamie's nickname was "Rocketshot" for the velocity of his shot on goal. In the past three years, we have raised over $30,000. Each year, Jamie's core group of best buddies are there to represent him, along with 500 runners.
Q: How is the money spent?
A: Each year, we award lacrosse scholarships to a boy and girl at Centennial. We also award four basketball scholarships. We have donated some new stadium flags for the school, a lacrosse bounceback wall, and we give out character awards to a graduating fifth and eighth grader at Jamie's elementary and middle schools. We also run a lacrosse equipment program for kids who are new to the sport but can't afford helmets and uniforms.
Q: Are you still in touch with Jamie’s friends?
A: We still receive messages and texts from them and they continue to send messages to Jamie's Instagram account. Now that Emily is in high school, they keep an eye out for her as Jamie would. They all still wear their orange and blue #LiveforJamie wristbands — Jamie was a huge Florida fan. They attend the annual events we host on Jamie's birthday. Seeing his friends go on with their lives without Jamie is hard, but knowing how important he was and is to them gives us strength.
Q: Team 8 sounds amazing.
A: Providing financial support for a lacrosse tribute team is one of the most rewarding things we have done. Team 8 was featured in U.S. Lacrosse Magazine and is coached by Jamie's former lacrosse coach, Frank Cecere. He handpicks players from 14 local school systems and a few from Tennessee and Florida. A lot of them played with Jamie. As the team breaks from a huddle, they scream, "Jamie!" It makes my heart smile because I know how proud Jamie would be.
Information on the Jamie McHenry Memorial Foundation: www.liveforjamie.com
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