Twin brothers ‘signed’ by Harlem Wizards

Family battling cancer is honored by traveling exhibition team

VANCOUVER — Adrian Reagan was a little shy at first.

There were so many people there, watching him, watching his brother, watching his mother.  They were the center of attention at a press conference held in their honor.

Adrian Reagan spins a basketball as his new teammate Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson looks on during Wednesday morning’s press conference at Harmony Elementary School. The Harlem Wizards, a basketball/entertainment group, signed Adrian and his twin brother Declan to “contracts” with the team. Declan, shown in his mother’s arms, is battling cancer. Photo by Paul Valencia
Adrian Reagan spins a basketball as his new teammate Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson looks on during Wednesday morning’s press conference at Harmony Elementary School. The Harlem Wizards, a basketball/entertainment group, signed Adrian and his twin brother Declan to “contracts” with the team. Declan, shown in his mother’s arms, is battling cancer. Photo by Paul Valencia
Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson is one of the Harlem Wizards who helped make for a special day at Harmony Elementary School for Adrian and Declan Reagan. Photo courtesy of Harlem Wizards
Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson is one of the Harlem Wizards who helped make for a special day at Harmony Elementary School for Adrian and Declan Reagan. Photo courtesy of Harlem Wizards

Within a few minutes, Adrian was interacting with his new “teammates,” even doing a trick with a basketball.

His classmates cheered for him. They cheered for his twin brother, too.

Declan Reagan, in his mother’s arms for the ceremony, is battling cancer.

Wednesday morning, their classmates at Harmony Elementary School got to witness the Reagan brothers sign with the Harlem Wizards, a traveling basketball/entertainment group that raises funds for local communities.  

The two 6-year-olds received plenty of swag, too, from the Wizards. There was a Declan “The Dinosaur” jersey and an Adrian the “A-Train” jersey. The Wizards also made jerseys for their parents, with the hashtag “ReaganStrong” on the back, and a “C” on the front, because they are the captains of this team.

Wednesday night, the family will be highlighted again as the Wizards take on staff members from Evergreen Public Schools at a charity event to raise money for Harmony’s Parent Teacher Association. The game is 7 p.m. at Union High School. Tickets at the door are $17 for general admission, $12 for students. The event promises to be a night of “trick hoops and alley oops.”

Lauren Reagan holds her son Declan while Adrian sports his new glasses provided by the Harlem Wizards. The twin brothers were “signed” by the traveling exhibition basketball club and will be honored at their game Wednesday night at Union High School. Photo by Paul Valencia
Lauren Reagan holds her son Declan while Adrian sports his new glasses provided by the Harlem Wizards. The twin brothers were “signed” by the traveling exhibition basketball club and will be honored at their game Wednesday night at Union High School. Photo by Paul Valencia

It will be yet another memory maker for the Reagan family, trying to gather as many special moments as they can during this difficult time. Declan is in hospice care after multiple battles with leukemia.

Adrian signed his “contract,” proudly wore Wizards glasses, and then got to help Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson spin a basketball.

Lauren Reagan thanked the Wizards for what they were doing for her sons.

Declan has spent 254 nights in a hospital the past two years, which means Adrian has gone a lot of nights without his mom at home.

“Adrian has had to make a lot of sacrifices,” she noted. “For Adrian to have his entire class chanting for him was really special.”

The Reagan family, she added, feels all the love from so many people as the family heads into its “darkest days.”

“The Harlem Wizards have gone above and beyond,” Lauren said, while also acknowledging the Harmony PTA. “To make such a special experience for my boys, I’m eternally grateful.”

Adrian Reagan gives Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson a high-five Wednesday morning at Harmony Elementary School. The Harlem Wizards, in town for a charity basketball exhibition, “signed” twin brothers Declan and Adrian to contracts. Their mom, Lauren Reagan, said she is grateful to the Wizards and the Harmony PTA for creating another special memory for the family. Photo by Paul Valencia
Adrian Reagan gives Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson a high-five Wednesday morning at Harmony Elementary School. The Harlem Wizards, in town for a charity basketball exhibition, “signed” twin brothers Declan and Adrian to contracts. Their mom, Lauren Reagan, said she is grateful to the Wizards and the Harmony PTA for creating another special memory for the family. Photo by Paul Valencia
The Harlem Wizards are set to play and perform Wednesday night at Union High School in a charity game for Harmony Elementary School’s PTA. The Wizards took time Wednesday morning to highlight twin brothers Declan and Adrian Reagan. Declan is battling cancer. Both brothers were “signed” by the team. Photo courtesy of Harlem Wizards
The Harlem Wizards are set to play and perform Wednesday night at Union High School in a charity game for Harmony Elementary School’s PTA. The Wizards took time Wednesday morning to highlight twin brothers Declan and Adrian Reagan. Declan is battling cancer. Both brothers were “signed” by the team. Photo courtesy of Harlem Wizards

The Wizards have four different traveling teams, playing all over the country, all over the world, in fact.

“This is what makes it all worth it. You can bring people together. People are smiling.,” Simpson said. “I can do something personal for a family. It doesn’t get no better than that, bro. We’re part of the community for one night. That’s priceless.”

Manu “The Magician” Ayer said he has his dream job, taking a sport he loves to make it a tool for good.  

“We use basketball as a platform to bring communities together,” he said.

They also are always in search of new talent to spread joy and fun through basketball.

Wednesday morning, the Wizards added Adrian and Declan Reagan to their roster of love.

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