Thirteen-year-old Justin Friedlander, of Rockville, Maryland, has an inoperable brain tumor.

You don’t know Justin but naturally you feel sorry for him. If you did know him, you would not.

How could you, when Friedlander is running adolescent circles around his condition? The only thing spreading in his busy-body is the inspiration he passes like the basketballs that crowd his driveway.

That’s right - Justin plays basketball. He loves soccer. He’s a kid, just like any other kid.

With, of course, one major exception - Justin has a mind-boggling courage and perspective that belies his years and has galvanized his community.

When Friedlander was diagnosed in March of 2009, he made the decision to turn his illness into strength.

For all of us.

And so with earnest, young Friedlander raises money and awareness for brain tumors. Using his love for shooting hoops, Justin has pledged to shoot 40,000 baskets for approximately every person who is diagnosed with a primary brain tumor each year in the United States.

His ambitious initiative, dubbed “Justin’s Quest,” has taken him on the thrill ride he so deserves. He’s played one-on-one with Michael Phelps, posed for pictures with LeBron James; and taken to the home court of the Washington Wizards for a special shoot around.    

And then there’s his beloved Maryland Terrapins.

Men’s soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski was informed of Justin’s story and affinity for the program, and it didn’t take long for the national champion coach to arrange to have Justin on campus where he played b-ball with the entire soccer team.

It was the start of a love affair between Justin and Maryland that continues to build.

“I have three girls, and one of them is a seventh-grader around Justin’s age,” Cirovski said. “I think the courage he has shown is remarkable. He’s taught us that life is not about what happens to you but how you react to it. He’s a fighter and a visionary and he’s doing everything he can for everyone who has this affliction.

“Our whole team and the Maryland program are so touched and we have kind of adopted him.”

As a result, Friedlander is the honorary captain of tonight’s Maryland vs. Virginia men’s soccer match to be LIVE! streamed here on TopDrawerSoccer.com. Terrapins basketball star Greivis Vasquez, who has also forged a strong bond with Justin, will also be present for a very special presentation.

As a part of tonight’s LIVE! stream, our viewing audience will vote for a Player of the Game from each team. Both players will be recognized following the game and TopDrawerSoccer.com will present a check for $1,000 in each player’s name that will go to Justin’s Quest, which supports the National Brain Tumor Society’s fight against the disease.

There is a lot to be learned about brain tumors: they’re the leading cancer related cause of death for those under the age of 20 with patients maintaining a poorer survival rate than breast cancer patients.

Like all prodigious fights - time, money and research are the foundation of the attack against it.

And remarkable people like Justin don’t hurt either.

“He’s truly a special kid,” said Vice Chairman of the National Brain Tumor Society Jeffrey Kolodin, who has combined forces with Justin. “This is a family disease – it affects everyone, and the whole Friedlander family has been amazing. His brothers get out every weekend and shoot baskets with him – they’re approaching 10,000 total.”

Kolodin, of all people, can understand just how special Justin is. Kolodin is also living with an inoperable tumor.

He was diagnosed nearly seven years ago.

It doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Justin teaches as much with every smile and jump shot; with every day.

Justin beats death through his life.

Please click here for more information on “Justin’s Quest” or to donate to the National Brain Tumor Society.