Lance McDowdell Supporters Raising Money For Mom, Grandmother

MOUNT VERNON, NY — After Lance McDowdell died in Arizona Dec. 20, a group of the former Mount Vernon High School star athlete's friends and supporters created Team McDowdell and a GoFundMe page to help his mother and grandmother.

"Lance will be dearly missed by his mother, and grandmother who were the guiding lights in his life," they wrote on GoFundMe. "We humbly ask for donations to help the McDowdell family during this time. "

McDowdell was a a key player for the Arizona Rattlers indoor football team, and was named to the second-team All-IFL in 2019. He was found shot and dying in the driveway of an apartment building in Phoenix, according to police.

Team McDowdell recalled that he started playing football when he was 5 years old. He was a star athlete at Mount Vernon High School in football and basketball.

"He had a decorated list of accomplishments on the field and hopes of continuing his football career," Team McDowdell wrote. "To the world, Lance was an amazing football player. Towering at 6’4”, he was a force to be reckoned with on the field. To his loved ones, he was known as the center of attention. He was the charismatic jokester that lit up any room. He had a way of making everyone feel as if they were family and if you knew him, he considered you as such."

So far, Team McDowdell has raised $3,819 of its $10,000 goal. Go to its GoFundMe page to contribute.

Services for the 25-year-old were held Monday at Macedonia Baptist Church at 141 S. Ninth Ave. in Mount Vernon.

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