M-Ville Hoops Team Fights For Teen Battling Cancer

The story of A.J Buchanan's struggles is a difficult one, the teenager has been through more obstacles in 14 years than many face in a lifetime.

But the men's basketball team at is to give the story of A.J's battle with cancer a happy ending.

Diagnosed with cancerous brain tumors at the age of nine, A.J. fought for his life for nine months before the cancer went into remission. The basketball team met A.J. in spring of 2010, when the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation helped land A.J. an honorary spot on the team. That season young A.J. spent his time cheering the team's players and even getting on referees from time to time.

Players and coaches call A.J. their "most valuable contributor", and say that the teen continues to inspire them more than a full season later.

But hardship hit A.J.'s family this spring when his mother died, leaving A.J under the care of his 20-year-old sister. Making matters worse, the cancerous tumors in A.J.'s brain returned for a second time, placing him in the hospital.

This season players from Manhattanville have been visiting A.J. often at Westchester Medical Center, offering encouraging words and hoping the 14-year-old can return to their bench for a few games this season.

The team has also asked for donations and raised money to help A.J and his family. But it was an unexpected donation that has helped inspire the launch of the "AJ5Fund", to help the teen and his family.

While looking through the Manhattanville basketball team's website before an upcoming game, players from the Elms College basketball team saw A.J.'s story. Looking for any way to help, the team decided to donate one night's meal money to A.J. The gesture has inspired Manhattanville to ask others to share in Elms College's generosity.

“I think it's just a great example of what a team is capable of doing off the court," said Manhattanville coach Pat Scanlon said. "It's a powerful message they sent, not because of the amount of money, which is very generous, but more so because it's a group of ‘strangers’ stepping up with action to support and encourage a young man and family who could use it.”

The AJ5Fund is named after A.J.'s jersey number on the Manhattanville basketball team. Although A.J. hasn't been able to take his seat on the Manhattanville bench for a game yet this season, the team still draws on him for inspiration. This year the team is wearing special warm-up uniforms with A.J's number on the back to raise awareness of the teen's struggles.

As the season continues, Scanlon and his team are hoping to get the word out to members of the community that every little bit helps, and they are hoping for donations that can once again bring A.J. to the team's sideline.

For more information on AJ or donating to the “AJ5 Fund”, please email Pat Scanlon at Pat.Scanlon@mville.edu or call (914) 323-7271.