Kings Park varsity soccer player Lauren Lenardo, 15, has been...

Kings Park varsity soccer player Lauren Lenardo, 15, has been battling a rare form of cancer with chemotherapy for over ten months. Lauren stands with her sister Holly (l) before the game. (Oct. 20, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan

There's a very special Sweet 16 planned on Thursday for Lauren Lenardi and all are invited.

The Kings Park girls varsity soccer team will dedicate their game against West Babylon to Lenardi, a former junior varsity soccer player who was diagnosed with Stage IV alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in December of 2010.

She turns 16 on Thursday.  The second annual Lauren Strong Game -- which will include the sale of T-shirts, raffles, arm bands and baked goods -- helps raise money and awareness for the condition.  

The game begins at 4 p.m. at Kings Park High School. Lenardi will be honored during a halftime ceremony.  "She needs all the outpouring of support she can get," Kings Park coach Bryan LoPalo said.  "It just shows her that she's not alone in this fight and hopefully, together, we can help her overcome it."

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