Nov. 9, 2009

The strong bond between the River Hawks and the staff and patients at Saints Medical Center continues to grow, as the UMass Lowell men's basketball team dressed up in festive costumes to spread some Halloween joy at Saints on Thursday, Oct. 29.

"Reaching out into our local community has been important to me from day one," head coach Greg Herenda said. "I was taught as a young boy to always give back and we have tried hard, in a short period of time, to do that here in Lowell."

Members of the team and coaching staff visited patients receiving chemotherapy and in long-term care at the hospital, played a mini-basketball game and handed out candy for Halloween.  The student-athletes and staff dressed up in hats, wigs, UMass Lowell gear and even Rowdy the River Hawk and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

"Our players are awesome at [giving back]," Herenda said. "Every time they go out and help in the community, they grow as citizens and as people."