E8 Teams Taking Part in USILA/HEADstrong Cancer Awareness Month
The Empire 8 men's lacrosse teams will be taking part in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA)/HEADstrong Cancer Awareness Month during the month of April.
During the month long initiative collegiate lacrosse teams nationwide will have the opportunity to make a statement on the playing field by pledging a game, raising funds and wearing official HEADstrong awareness accessories in support of the cause. Teams are encouraged to identify and register their USILA HEADstrong Awareness Game at
http://usila.org/headstrong.
Games within the Empire 8 that have been designated include:
April 1: Stevens v Ithaca
April 1: Utica v Houghton
April 8: Elmira v Hartwick
April 15: Alfred v Elmira
April 18: Houghton v Nazareth
April 18: St. John Fisher v Elmira
April 22: Hartwick v Houghton
April 22: Ithaca v Alfred
April 29: Nazareth v Stevens
In December 2015, the USILA and the HEADstrong Foundation announced its partnership aimed at raising cancer awareness and funds for improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families. The landmark initiative took place during the week of April 15 – 23, 2016.
In October 2016, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and the HEADstrong Foundation introduced Cancer Awareness Week; a landmark initiative empowering collegiate lacrosse programs to raise awareness and funds for families affected by cancer. In an effort to strengthen their commitment to the fight against cancer, the USILA and HEADstrong announced in October 2016 the expansion of the campaign for the 2017 season to encompass the month of April.
“This evolution provides more flexibility to member institutions to identify games as USILA/HEADstrong Cancer Awareness Games,” explains USILA President and Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “It also creates an even greater emphasis on the initiative and the goal of creating more awareness around cancer and the many ways HEADstrong supports those battling this illness which can have a devastating impact on families in so many ways.”
During April, DI, DII and DIII teams will have the ability to host “Lime Outs” involving fan participation, donations in lieu of admission and online fundraising to support the cause. Coaches will be asked to show their support by wearing a commemorative pin and teams will have the ability to wear lime green accessories including: shoelaces, knee band, crew socks and patches, which will be available for purchase with proceeds supporting the cause at
www.HEADstrong.org/shop.
In 2005, Nicholas Colleluori, a lacrosse player at Hofstra University was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Colleluori was a Division I lacrosse player entering his sophomore year at Hofstra University when he was terminally diagnosed with cancer. His public fight from the sidelines captivated the nation and from his hospital bed he created an organization focused on empowering student-athletes to improve lives affected by the disease. His vision was simple yet critical; helping real families when they needed it most, providing support so that families may live with a greater dignity and normalcy. Colleluori fought to improve the inpatient experience, the affordability and accessibility of care and tackled the general concerns facing the patient population. Understanding the ripple effect and impact that a cancer diagnosis had on a family, Colleluori championed efforts to support caregivers and capital projects to improve accommodations. He built an awareness platform driven by lime green shoelaces, the national awareness color for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He empowered his own family and in the last days of his life asked them to pick up the ball where he left off. Nicholas lost his valiant battle on November 28th, 2006 but his legacy of toughness and determination lives on in the HEADstrong Foundation. Since 2007, HEADstrong has raised more than $9 million supporting more than 13,000 patients and their families. For more on the HEADstrong Foundation please visit
www.HEADstrong.org.