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April 25, 2008

Jean DePlacido column: Peabody's McKeon chosen by NFL to help promote flag football

By Jean DePlacido

Kenia McKeon was one of the first girls to play flag football in Peabody, and was a member of the Peabody girls 12-to-14-year-old all-star team that went to the National Tournament at Disney World.

Now the Peabody High School junior and starter on the Tanners' softball team has been selected to represent this region of the country for a National Football League pilot program, intended to introduce flag football as a high school varsity sport.

McKeon is one of only 10 girls throughout the country who have been chosen.

The NFL conducted research which revealed that Peabody is a hot spot for girls involved in the sport of flag football. Samantha Rapoport of the Youth Department NFL office was selected to head up the program.

"I received a note from (Rapoport) about the need for more girls to get involved in flag football and about this new program to start an interscholastic sport at the high school level," said Austin Bradshaw, who founded Peabody Youth Flag Football and this year added programs in both Beverly and Lynn. "They identified 10 cities across the country, and we're very proud that Peabody was one of them.

"They wanted one girl that we considered to be a leader in our community and who wanted to play flag football as a competitive school sport. The league will train these girls about how to present it to their high school athletic directors."

The NFL identified Peabody as the No. 3 area on their Top 10 list for having the highest number of females participating in their youth flag football program. Others cities on the list are Las Vegas, San Jose, Levittown, Penn., Wayne, N.J., Fort Wayne, Ind., Glendale, Ariz., Austin, Texas, Fallon, Nev. and Atlanta.

"I was contacted by an NFL representative and given information about what we'll be doing," said McKeon, who also plays volleyball and basketball. "It's an honor to be picked as one of only 10 girls from all over the country.

"I love flag football. It's an awesome sport, and I think this is a great idea. I've been doing it since I was in the seventh grade. When I started at age 12 there was only me and a couple of other girls. Now I referee teams of younger girls, and I am amazed how popular it has become."

Currently, flag football is a state sanctioned sport at the high school level in Florida and Alaska with large numbers of girls competing.

The NFL is offering to provide free footballs, flag belts and coaching manuals to schools that agree to participate in the initial year of the program, with the league's long-term goal of creating an NCAA sport for women. The only cost to schools would be officiating and field time.

McKeon was selected for her leadership skills, determination and enthusiasm. She will receive training from NFL personnel.

"We went to the Nationals three years ago, and since then Peabody has sent two other teams there," said McKeon. "We met so many other players there and it was a great experience — all the girls had so much fun."

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Stefane Cahill Farella ran the Boston Marathon as part of the Mass General Hospital team to raise money for cancer research.

"Fighting Kids Cancer One Step At A Time" paired each marathoner with a young patient. Cahill Farella's partner was 2-year old Trent McKinnon-Tucker of Marblehead, son of Paralympic sailor Maureen McKinnon-Tucker and her husband, Dan.

Young Trent was operated on at MGH three months ago for a brain tumor and has been undergoing chemotherapy at the hospital. His family received some good news earlier this week when results came back that showed all signs of cancer gone from the original area.

Patients and families gathered at mile 20 of the marathon to cheer on the runners. Trent had to head back to the hospital for the third round of his chemo treatment.

Cahill Farella had hoped to raise $3,000 by running, but nearly doubled his original goal.

Jean DePlacido is a part-time writer and columnist for The Salem News. Contact her at jmdeplacido@aol.com.

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