Ewing, NJ... Prior to its meet with New York University, The College of New Jersey women's swimming and diving team sported “Team Beam” t-shirts in support of the Violet's head coach Lauren Beam.

Beam has been diagnosed with advanced stage colon cancer. Members of her swimming team at NYU organized a “relay for life” fundraiser and have since branched out to sell shirts with the help of Beam's sister, Carrie.

Lions head coach Jen Harnett '93 developed a friendship with Beam through coaching and contacted her sister Carrie to order shirts as a show of support for her friend and the NYU program. TCNJ's swimmers lined the pool before the meet with NYU donning blue shirts that read, “Team Beam”. All proceeds from the shirts into a fund to help pay for a second and third opinion following four rounds of chemotherapy. These appointments are not covered by medical insurance

A 1999 graduate of NYU, Beam was a two-time All-American. Since taking over the Violets' program in 2004, Beam has accumulated a coaching record of 59-6. She's produced NCAA All-Americans and guided NYU to four ECAC Championship titles.

To learn more about Lauren Beam's story, visit

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/laurenbeam/journal.