The Nazareth Academy and St. Hubert soccer teams honored the memory of Philomena Stendardo before their game at Lighthouse Soccer Club, at Southampton Road and Roosevelt Boulevard.
The Sept. 19 tribute to Philomena coincided with September being Childhood Cancer Month.
Philomena “Bean” Stendardo, an 8-year-old from Port Richmond, died in 2017 of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a fatal form of brain cancer that mostly affects kids under 11.
Philomena’s parents, Mark and Mina, started the Storm the Heavens Fund to spread awareness and fund research for DIPG. Money is raised at the annual Bean’s Ball.
Mark Stendardo and his son, Mark, attended the game, won by Nazareth, 1-0, on a second-half goal. Mina was in Washington, D.C. attending a childhood brain cancer summit.
The players unveiled a large banner that included a picture of Philomena surrounded by the words “Storm the Heavens Fund” and “Finding a cure for DIPG,” along with the hashtags PlaylikePhil and PraylikePhil and the Nazareth and St. Hubert logos.
The players also wore ribbons in their hair in memory of Philomena and in recognition of Childhood Cancer Month.
Saige Primavera, a captain for St. Hubert, led the crowd in prayer. Brynn Primavera, Saige’s mom, is a board member of Storm the Heavens.
Philomena played soccer for teams such as the Fishtown A.C. Shooting Stars and Philadelphia Soccer Club. Some of her former teammates now play for Nazareth and St. Hubert.
For more information, visit StormTheHeavens.org. ••
