by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The sports world is jammed with historical dates. Days when records are set or broken, milestones are reached and the greats hang up the cleats, skates or spikes. No date will be more important to Jacksonville University junior second baseman Logan James and his family than Oct. 27, 2005.
That day, Logan lost his No. 1 fan to a painful disease. His grandfather, Herb Snellen, who had followed closely as he continued his baseball career at JU, finally lost his battle with cancer.
“He was my biggest supporter out of anyone in my family,” said James. “It didn’t even matter if I had gone 0-for-5 with four errors; he still believed I was the best player that he had ever seen.”
Out of tragedy was born an idea. As James recalled the last painful weeks of his grandfather’s life, one of the memories that stuck with him the most was the remarkable kindness and care that Snellen received from the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida to ease his suffering.
“Colon cancer is one of the worst ways to go and they did everything they could to make sure he was as comfortable as possible,” said James. “As his symptoms and the pain could no longer be reasonably managed at home, he opted for in-patient care at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring during his last four days. In providing these services, he was able to live his last days on his own terms. It really meant a lot to me and my family and I wanted to find a way to repay that kindness.”
Today, when James — a lead-off hitter for the Dolphins — digs in, he’s taking cuts for both the team and Snellen. In an effort to raise money for Community Hospice, James started “Hits for Hospice.” With each hit, James gets donations, all of which go to his initiative. Today, James has $1,820 in the pot, but it could be a whole lot more.
“I was hurt for three weeks,” said James. “I tore a ligament right below the ankle. I have to tape it and brace it when I play.”
Before injury James had amassed 27 hits and was batting around .330. Then he went on a puzzling 0-25 streak.
“It was the best I had hit all year. I was hitting missiles at people,” said James, adding that nothing would fall. “Surprisingly, I had raised $1,700 by then.”
Most of the money comes from family and friends and in relatively small increments. One family member, however, pays on a sliding scale: $5 for singles, $10 for doubles, $15 for triples and $20 for homeruns (James has yet to homer this year). Some even made donations while he was injured.
“Two of the biggest donors to JU baseball donating money based on me getting two hits a game while I was injured,” said James.
The Community Hospice is a non-profit, community-based organization which was founded in 1979 as the first Hospice in Northeast Florida. The organization, which served 5,354 patients last year alone, has 700 employees and 1,100 volunteers who care for 1,000 patients daily.
“Community Hospice’s mission is to improve the quality of life for patients and families and be the compassionate guide for end-of-life care in the community,” said Susan Ponder-Stansel, president and CEO of Community Hospice. “That means we help patients manage pain and symptoms more comfortably, we help lighten the care-giver’s burdens, and we guide and support families as they make difficult decisions.”
Two years ago, tragedy first struck the family when Snellen was diagnosed with colon cancer and immediately had the affected area removed with surgery. In the aftermath of the surgery, no traces of the disease were found and the procedure was deemed a success.
A random blood test in January of 2005 revealed the worst was yet to come. The colon cancer in Snellen’s body had resurfaced, this time in his lungs. He immediately began chemotherapy to battle the disease, but there was no hope of a full recovery. Instead, the treatment allowed Snellen to live long enough to reach his 59th wedding anniversary, the only goal he established for himself before succumbing to the disease.
“Herb and I enjoyed a 59-year love affair when a young man returning from World War II saw beauty and hope again on a blind date arranged by his cousin,” said Rose Snellen, Herb’s wife and James’ grandmother. “We counted our blessings over the years, but we never counted on cancer. Herb’s last wish to celebrate our 59th wedding anniversary was granted and our last anniversary was a sweet jubilee that I will cherish for all times.”
James began the process by seeking the advice of his parents and JU Athletic Director Alan Verlander on how he could raise money and where it should go.
“Once I talked with my parents and Alan, I realized the hospice was where the donations should go,” said James. “I spoke with donor relations representative, Susan Helander, once on the phone and we came up with a very simple concept.
“It’s almost like a walk-a-thon, but instead, I’m doing it through the sport he loved to watch me play. This is a way to pay back the hospice center while also doing something in honor of my grandparents.”
The entire process has helped James understand why people get involved in charitable organizations and causes.
“I always wondered why people have done things like this and now that my grandfather has passed, I understand,” said James. ”I’m still working hard to find more donors and I’m doing my best to perform on the field.”
James is a senior at JU, but a junior eligibility-wise. In order to play next year, James declared both a second major and a minor. He plans to continue “Hits for Hospice” next year and may consider asking JU players of the future to continue the initiative. He says the effort will also remain a priority throughout his adult life.
“No doubt,” he said. “The treatment and the care and compassion they showed my grandfather that week was unreal.”
James’ idea has especially impressed his family.
“Logan’s idea to create ‘Hits for Hospice’ overwhelmed our entire family,” said James’ mother Sally. “Following dad’s death, Logan said he was awake all that night thinking about how best to honor his grandfather and as the idea evolved in his mind, he felt at peace. ‘Hits for Hospice’ has helped us all deal with the grief and loss.
“Logan’s dedication to make this happen speaks volumes about his kindheartedness and his immense love of his grandfather. I know my dad is standing at home plate with Logan during each at-bat this season.”
If you would like to join in the “Hits for Hospice” with James and his family, please send an e-mail to [email protected].
— some information courtesy the JU athletic department