(Courtesy of Kids of Courage) Kids of Courage, the non-profit organization dedicated to creating smiles on the faces of children with serious illnesses, ran its first-ever flag football tournament event this past Sunday in Cedarhurst, at Lawrence High School. The super successful fundraising event featured Curtis Samuel, wide receiver of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, as well as hundreds of players from across the tri-state area. The players competed in games from the morning into the afternoon before a champion team was crowned.

“We’re thrilled with the turnout,” said Josh Friedman, longtime Kids of Courage volunteer who helped bring the superstar athlete to the event. “We can’t thank our great sponsors enough. We’re looking forward to an even bigger and better event next year.”

It turned out to be an action-packed Sunday for Kids of Courage as the organization also announced it’s heading to Phoenix, Arizona in August for the group’s 11th annual summer adventure.