SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake is pleased to announce that next Saturday, September 16th, when RSL plays host to FC Dallas, UYSA and the UC Strikers Club will be on hand to honor Brady Jensen, a former member of the Strikers who passed away last year due to Spinal Meningitis at the age of 13.
The evening will kick off with a youth parade that will be known as the "Brady Jensen Youth Soccer Parade", featuring former teammates of Brady's from the UC Strikers, the Jensen Family, as well as Colin Williams and Scott Heaton, the first ever recipients of the "Brady Jensen Memorial Scholarship." The Scholarship was recently founded by the Jensen family, and is awarded to the UC Strikers player who most exemplifies sportsmanship, enthusiasm, fair play, academic achievement, community involvement, and soccer ability. A scholarship is awarded in both the spring and fall seasons.</p>
In addition to the scholarship, the Jensen family recently raised nearly $20,000 to remodel the waiting room at Primary Children's Hospital, where Brady received treatment for his illness. Since Brady's death last year, the Jensen family has been very pro-active in community outreach projects and memorial program initiatives in order to honor their son and ensure that his legacy lives on.</p>
Kam's Kauses, a non-profit organization founded by former RSL Midfielder Brian Kamler, will be on hand at the game on Saturday to raffle several items. All the proceeds from the raffle will go towards the Brady Jensen Scholarship. In addition, Lisa Jensen, Brady's Mom and the UC Strikers Club President, will be honored as the "Sprint Super Soccer Mom of the Game."</p>
The UC Strikers Club will be selling tickets to the game on September 16th game to raise additional funds for the scholarship and Primary Children's Hospital. Please visit www.ucstrikers.com for more information on donating funds or purchasing tickets to support this great cause.</p>
"We are so pleased that Real Salt Lake has provided us with this opportunity to honor Brady", Lisa Jensen stated. "Soccer was such a big part of his life, he loved playing with the Strikers and he loved going to the Real games. It will be wonderful to see all of his former teammates and friends at the game to honor and remember him. My family and I are very thankful."</p>
Real Salt Lake is very pleased for the opportunity to team with UYSA and the UC Strikers to honor the memory of Brady Jensen. The following is a short memorial written by Brady's Mother, Lisa, honoring her son and explaining the motivation for creating the scholarship:</p>
BRADY JENSEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Sponsored by UTAH COUNTY STRIKERS SOCCER CLUB
In memory of Brady Jensen
Brady Jensen displayed and exemplified excellence and leadership on and off the soccer field. Brady was friendly, caring, sportsmanlike, hard-working, diligent, and goal oriented. Brady was a student body officer at his middle school. He was a kind and gentle boy who loved everyone and was loved by everyone. Brady was a great athlete, excelling in soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, football, or any other sport he wanted to play. He was also an excellent student with a curious and inquiring mind. One outstanding quality of Brady's was his almost legendary love of younger children.
As he would patiently play with babies or toddlers for hours one could not help but be reminded of the Savior who said, "suffer the little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Brady was very active in his religious association with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brady has earned his Duty to God as a Deacon and Eagle Scout awards with Boys Scouts of America.
He was an obedient son who was destined to be an outstanding missionary for the LDS church. We know that he is in the loving care of his Heavenly Father and will yet serve his mission in another realm.
He was a loving companion to his older sister and younger brothers and his loss will be a big void in their lives. The same goes for his UC Striker team mates. While his family, teammates, and friends feel Brady's absence, we all rejoice in the years we were privileged to have with him and all strive to lead a life similar to the exemplary life Brady Jensen led.
The purpose of the Brady Jensen Memorial Scholarship is to perpetuate the memory of this outstanding young man. Each year the UC Strikers Soccer Club player who best demonstrates their commitment to excellence in all areas of life will be awarded the Brady Jensen Memorial Scholarship, will receive the Brady Jensen Memorial Scholarship Traveling Trophy to keep on their trophy shelf for the year of the award, and will receive the official Brady Jensen Memorial Scholarship Recipient Certificate.
