WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The public is invited to a “celebration of life” for lacrosse player Matt Stratman Thursday at Lakota West High School.
The 15-year-old died Saturday, three weeks after he suffered a stroke and collapsed following a June 9 lacrosse game.
The funeral service starts at 7 p.m. in the school gym at 8940 Union Centre Blvd. Doors open at 6 p.m.
RELATED: Send your condolences to Matt's family online and read message from his family.
Matt's family invited attendees to “please join Matt’s family as we walk him through the West Stadium” after the service, the Journal-News reported.
Matt's family will hold private funeral services on Friday, according to Hodapp Funeral Home.
Obituary for Matt Stratman- https://t.co/MIBJg2rwBt
Community, Friends and Famiky are able to send Condolence Message via this page.#StratmanStrong— Scott Kaufman (@LakotaWestAD) July 3, 2018
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the AVM Research Foundation, 179 Windfair Loop, Montgomery, Texas 77316 or to the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati, 350 Erkenbrecher Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229, or to a Local Youth Sports Organization of donor’s choice.
Matt never regained consciousness following his stroke. He was diagnosed with an AVM (arteriovenous malformation), which involves bleeding in the brain, according to a GoFundMe page created to help the family defray medical costs.
RELATED: Matt's dad shares their last words.
Hundreds attended a prayer vigil for Matt at the high school Saturday night.
Matt's fight for life brought together thousands of people from the community and even lacrosse programs across the country. Using the slogan, "StratmanStrong," they prayed and remembered Matt in several of events and fundraisers.
Lakota West schoolmates and friends held a car wash June 16.
"The community and the kids it makes me very proud to be the principal of Lakota West because our kids have stepped up in such a great way,” Principal Elgin Card said.
At the car wash, more than 120 people taped video messages for Matt, hoping he could hear them in his hospital bed.
