`PLAY FOR THE CURE' RAISES FUNDS; SOFTBALL TOURNEY IN HARRIS' HONOR HELPS HISTIOCYTOSIS RESEARCH.

Byline: Kirby Lee Staff Writer

Andrew Harris is very much alive and so is the future of the Play for a Cure softball tournament held in his honor.

Andrew, a 4-year-old Simi Valley resident, has histiocytosis, a cancer-like disease that mainly affects infants and young children. He has undergone two bone-marrow transplants and numerous chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Andrew was diagnosed with histiocytosis at 26 weeks of gestation and underwent internal chemotherapy while in the womb. In addition to bone-marrow transplants, he has also had part of his lung removed, had three blood transfusions and a heart attack.

Andrew is unable to speak or walk and weighs only 21 pounds. His mother Christie, however, said his condition is stable and is vastly improved from the days when he was unable to hold his head up and took 13 medications simultaneously.

During the early stages of his life, Andrew could have bled to death if he got a cut or a scrape. In all, Andrew's medical bills have totaled $5.2 million, the majority of which has been covered by insurance.

``Things have gone very well,'' Christie Harris said. ``He's making up for lost time from the medication. The less medication he's on, the better he's doing.''

Histiocytosis is a rare disease which affects one in 200,000 children or one in 560,000 adults. There is no known cause or cure. Because of its rarity, there is no federal funding for research.

The disease stems from an accumulation of a white blood cell called a histiocyte. The cells damage various organs, including the brain, lungs, liver, spleen, lymph nodes and bones. Research was limited to case studies from independent doctors until 1986 when the Histiocytosis Association was formed.

Tom Glynn, a heating and air-conditioning contractor in Northridge, conceived the tournament last year for Andrew's third birthday and to increase awareness of histiocytosis. Andrew's father, Randy, has played with Glynn on Master Heating & Air's coed softball team for the past several years.

This second annual tournament has raised $7,490 for histiocytosis research. Contributions are trickling in from the July 3 competition at Ranch Simi Park and plans are underway for a third tournament next July.

The inaugural tournament in 1998 attracted eight teams and raised $5,300. This year, the tournament featured 16 teams and received donations from local businesses including Big 5 Sporting Goods, Continental Recovery Service, Applebees restaurant and Farmer's Insurance.

Actress Heather Locklear also made a contribution after a coincidental meeting with the Harris family at a local restaurant.

``It has taken a lot of teamwork, but we've received a lot of community support,'' said De Ann Glynn, who organized the tournament. ``It's been like a snowball and everybody wants to help.''

Ranch Simi Parks and Recreation donated use of fields. A group of 15 volunteers helped with food concessions and raffle-ticket and T-shirt sales. Keri Neuohr and her husband, Greg, friends of the Glynn and Harris families, became involved after attending a seminar on histiocytosis earlier this year.

`Once we saw what it was, we wanted to do whatever we could,'' said Keri Neuohr.

Christie Harris has found that to be a common response. Harris herself was unfamiliar with histiocytosis until encountering the disease firsthand.

Although the disease is not hereditary, Harris' 2-day old son died of histiocytosis in 1992 and a 1-month-old daughter died in 1991. Harris' daughters Emilee, 12, and Megan, 9, are unaffected. Harris believes the tournament has made strides toward promoting awareness of histiocytosis in the community.

``I was a little intimidated with all the work that went along with the tournament, but I was overwhelmed by all the people willing to help whether they were playing softball or came out all day just to be a part of it,'' she said.

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PHOTO (1-2--Color) Four-year-old Andrew Harris, swinging, has a softball tournament held in his honor to raise money for histiocytosis, a cancer-like disease. Below: Andrew with his mother Christie Harris.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News