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Manchester H.S. linebacker battles sun disease to play sport he loves

A Manchester High School linebacker will hit the football field Saturday with gear to protect him from his opponents and from the sun. Sophomore Craig Leppert has a genetic disease called EPP, which

News 12 Staff

Oct 13, 2006, 10:18 PM

Updated 6,575 days ago

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A Manchester High School linebacker will hit the football field Saturday with gear to protect him from his opponents and from the sun.
Sophomore Craig Leppert has a genetic disease called EPP, which means he cannot come in direct contact with sunlight for extended periods of time. The 16-year-old wears gloves, long-sleeve shirts and pants or stockings. He also has a neck guard and a tinted shield on his helmet. Leppert?s coach says the teen doesn?t get any special treatment.
Parents are trying to raise $180,000 to add lights to the football field, not for Leppert, but for the entire team. Leppert says while he would appreciate having more night games, he?s still a player first, teammate second and a person with a disease third.