POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist men's soccer program's Red Fox Youth Camp is attended by dozens of young athletes every year. This summer, however, an extra pair of children are attending that normally would not have been able.

Jason Durand was the college roommate of previous Marist head coach Bob Herodes at SUNY Oneonta. Durand grew up in Poughkeepsie, and was friends and teammates with current head coach Matt Viggiano before passing in 2010. A soccer tournament to benefit his surviving children is run by Viggiano and Poughkeepsie natives Bill and Chris Kapogiannis every year in his memory.

The men's soccer program gives away a free week of camp to a lucky elementary school-aged child every year, but this summer, Durand's former teammates from Oneonta approached Viggiano and they made a plan to sponsor another boy and girl to attend the Red Fox Soccer Camp in Durand's honor.

"We love to give opportunities to kids who have great ability, but slip through the cracks. It's a small gesture, but it keeps Jason's legacy alive and gives kids the experiences that we know he would want them to have," stated head coach Matt Viggiano. "Jason was an amazing person, and we remember him through this act every year. All of us who knew him know he would appreciate it."

Viggiano and the rest of Durand's friends have decided to continue this act every summer, and Durand's legacy will continue to live on at Marist College.

The Marist men's soccer team reports to campus on Tuesday, August 13. The season begins at Jacksonville University on August 30 at 7 p.m.