LEWISTON — Eddie Warren is understandably proud of his Lobster Bowl record 40-yard extra point.

“It was the biggest moment of my life,” Warren recalled Sunday. “After I made the extra point, I looked to the crowd and everyone was on their feet, and let me tell you, it was the best moment of my life.”

Warren’s kick for the West in last year’s Lobster Bowl (pushed back by numerous West penalties) isn’t his only distinction. Not only was he selected to play in the annual contest to benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children, he has also been a Shriners Hospital patient since he was two months old.

At the Kora Temple on Sunday, Warren received two more standing ovations as he told the high school seniors who will be participating in this year’s Lobster Bowl what the game has meant to him from the perspectives of player and patient.

Warren, who graduated from Sacopee Valley High School last year, was born with two deformed legs. At eleven months old, he had his first surgery at the Shriners Hospital when both legs were amputated at the knee. He has had three surgeries on his right leg and one on his left, and he now wears two fiberglass legs, prosthetics provided by the Shriners that served him well as a three-sport athlete since fifth grade.

Standing before a crowd of over 200 players, cheerleaders and their families on Sunday and wearing his blue West jersey with a white number 27, Warren said he never let his setbacks prevent him from doing what he loved to do.

“Never give up on any situation, because there is always someone in a situation tougher than you,” said Warren, who played football, baseball and basketball at Sacopee.

Caitlin Bazinet, a 2009 Winthrop High School graduate, another patient treated by Shriners for injuries suffered in a December, 2008 car accident, emphasized what the game means to 750,00 patients who have received care from 22 Shriners Hospitals in North America.

“This game is really important, not only to people like me and Nate but all the kids the Shriners help,” she said.

The speakers resonated with the cheerleaders and players, who are each asked to raise $500 to participate in the game. Oxford Hills cheerleader Montana Mawhinney said she was already familiar with the Shriners through competing in their annual cheerleading competition at Lewiston High School and coach Deb Loveless’ long-time involvement with the Lobster Bowl, but seeing two people near her age who have benefited from the charity renewed her sense of purpose.

“We’ve always been really passionate about giving our time,” she said. “It’s so inspirational to see them and hear them say you can’t let anything hold you back in life.”

“It was very informative. I didn’t know the whole behind-the-scenes thing with the Shriners Hospital,” said Max Cloutier, a lineman from Leavitt who will play for the East. “It’s pretty cool that we’re playing for a cause other than ourselves.”

The Lobster Bowl has raised more than $380,000 for Shriners Hospitals and has grown in its popularity with participants and fans in its 22-year history. The game showcases the best graduated seniors in the state and draws large crowds to Biddeford’s Waterhouse Field annually.

“It’s something I’ve always dreamed about, being able to play with the best of the best and being recognized as one of the best of the best,” Cloutier said.

The East won last year’s exciting shootout, 40-35, but the West still holds the all-time series lead, 15-6.

If they meet their fundraising requirements, players will report to training camp at Hebron Academy and cheerleaders at Central Maine Community College on July 17.

The 22nd annual Lobster Bowl will be played Saturday, July 23 at Waterhouse Field. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. In a rematch of the 2010 Class B state championship game, Mountain Valley’s Jim Aylward will coach the West squad and Leavitt’s Mike Hathaway will coach the East.

The game will be preceded by a punt, pass and kick competition and a new event, the “Lobster Bowl Legends Games,” two flag football contests involving Lobster Bowl alumni.

The annual Lobster Bowl golf tournament at Turner Highlands is July 17.