Reagan Ochan: Making a Lacrosse Dream Come True

This a fundraiser about saving a starfish named Reagan Ochan. Most of us know the “Starfish Story” of the little girl tossing beached starfish back into the ocean, who was questioned as to why she did it by a cynical man telling her that she could not possibly make a difference, since there were so many starfish already stranded on the beach. Her reply, “I can make a difference for this one,” was and is the message at the heart of this story.

My starfish is Reagan Ochan. Five years ago, I met Reagan Ochan, then a sixteen-year old Ugandan lacrosse player, who had successfully participated as the youngest player in the World Games in Israel (16pts, 4g,12a). Orphaned at three, and the sole support of his family of fourteen at ten years of age, Reagan sold pancakes (biscuits) to keep his family afloat. As luck would have it, his best customers were the lacrosse players at Uganda’s Makerere University. After selling out his biscuits, he began fooling around with their sticks, and eventually became one of the most skilled and talented players in Africa. In the years that have followed, Reagan has spent his days teaching, spreading and celebrating the spirit of hope through the game of lacrosse in the worst slums in Kenya and Uganda. But the DREAM that has always fueled his existence has been to come to the United States, be the first person in his family to get a college degree, play lacrosse at the highest level and return to lead his family out of poverty.

My brief but intense tenure in African lacrosse, has taught me that I could not save all the lacrosse starfish in drastic poverty but that I could save this one starfish. Now, after five years of struggle, rejections, denied visas, and disappointments that would have derailed anyone I know, Reagan is enrolled and will attend Nassau Community College this fall to be part of their unbelievable tradition of changing lives and winning championships. Reagan provides a living example to the growing African lacrosse population in indescribable poverty that dreams can come true, and lacrosse and hard work can be the vehicle to make that dream come true.

Now for the ask part. Not having a hedge fund, being a retired teacher, I could really use your help in bringing his dream to fruition as tuition remains a reality. That reality for international students runs more than 16K a year. Any help or donation that you can provide in this cause would be greatly appreciated and would make a difference for Reagan and his family.

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If lacrosse or someone giving has made any sort of difference in your life, please think about making Reagan’s educational and lacrosse dreams come true.

To see Reagan in action, check out his Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/reagan_ochan_16/)