East Lynn Pop Warner team raising funds for Florida trip

LYNN - "Nobody works harder" is the team motto of the East Lynn Pee Wee Bulldogs, which won the New England Pop Warner football championship last week with a 20-12 win over the Worcester Vikings.

Now the team of 34 boys, ages 10 to 12 years old, hopes its motto helps them win a fund-raising challenge. They must raise $40,000 to $45,000 to cover the cost of their trip tomorrow to Walt Disney World in Florida to compete in the Pop Warner Football National Championships. The amount is enough to cover the cost of players, coaches, and chaperones to attend the tournament, played at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.

"We're going crazy to raise this money," said Jeff Earp. "This is a great group of kids. East Lynn has always been a dominant program [in Pop Warner] but this is the first time they've cracked through [the New England regionals] and made it to Florida."

The Bulldogs, 13-0 in the regular season, are the first team in the 65-year history of Lynn Pop Warner to compete for a national title. The city also has a Pop Warner program for West Lynn youths.

Coaches and parents have been working overtime to raise money since the team won the New England title on Nov. 28. Parents have stood with cans, soliciting donations outside Lynn businesses. Coaches have sent fund-raising letters to local businesses.

By early this week, Earp said, about half of the money had been raised or pledged. "We really need support," he said. "This is a great team."

Contributions can be sent to East Lynn Pop Warner Football, Box 8167, Lynn, MA 01904.

KATHY McCABE