Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/9/10
From Press Releases
The HEADstrong Foundation has announced that the 4th Annual Nick Colleluori Classic will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9-10 at Ridley High School in Folsom, PA.
The event was created in honor of Nick Colleluori, a Ridley graduate who died just over 3 years ago after a 14-month battle vs. non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma while a student-athlete at Hofstra University.
During his courageous fight, Colleluori established the HEADstrong Foundation. He used his experience as a way to raise awareness about the disease and at the young age of 19 recognized the need for funds for research and understood the financial impact a disease has on a family. His philosophy was always about helping others and focusing on the positives that life has to offer.
In the last 3 years, thanks, to the efforts of the teams that participated, the Foundation has raised over $500,000 towards the cause of fighting blood cancer through research, development and awareness. Funds are generated by the sale of HEADstrong merchandise, gate fees of $10 per person and the sale of t-shirts by the teams.
The tournament is more than just lacrosse, it is a life lesson; the student-athletes are truly making a difference in the lives of blood cancer patients and doing their part to end this disease by supporting the research initiative. The t-shirts are a key component in our fund-raising efforts and, just as important, serves as a key source of awareness. This year the shirts will be royal blue.
HEADstrong officials said that this foundation has grown beyond any of its expectations due to the work that Nick did and the respect that people have for him. The Colleluori family said that, although bittersweet, it has been very rewarding to be able to give back to the blood cancer community by providing financial support to those suffering a hardship due the disease (the community that Nick belonged to) through the lacrosse community, just as he envisioned.
As it was last year, the event will feature a Division I day (Saturday) and a Division III day (Sunday).There will be between 8 to 10 teams in each field. Those interested should contact the HEADstrong Foundation President Cheryl Colleluori at ccollelu@rcn.com.
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