This week, all 8 MLL teams will unite on the field to make a statement on behalf of those affected by blood cancers. While these teams are relentlessly competing for play-off contention, this week they will pay homage to a fallen lacrosse brother and his vision as the MLL proudly presents Burn Cancer, an awareness campaign in support of the HEADstrong Foundation™ (HF™).
With a new diagnosis happening everyone four minutes and a cause related death occurring every ten, over 3,500 families will be devastated by the realities of blood cancer this week alone and that is why the MLL has teamed up with HF™ to elevate awareness of all forms of blood cancers and support the essential programs and services offered to patients and families through the HEADstrong Foundation.
Throughout the action-packed week, MLL players will wear HEADstrong lime green shoelaces, MLL coaches will sport lime green shirts and select players will wear Warrior Lacrosse equipment specifically designed with HEADstrong elements, raising awareness and representing the patients, survivors, and victims of the disease. Lime green is not only the National Awareness Color indicating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but also the adopted color of HEADstrong, which Nick Colleluori, founder of HEADstrong, believed was meant to invigorate and enliven those who wore it.
MLL Burn Cancer Week Schedule
7/31Chesapeake Bayhawks vs. Denver Outlaws 7:30PM on CBS Sports Network
8/1Charlotte Hounds vs. New York Lizards 7:00PM on CBS Sports Network
8/2Boston Cannons vs. Florida Launch 3:00PM on ESPN3
8/2Rochester Rattlers vs. Ohio Machine 7:00PM on YouTube
Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori founded the HEADstrong Foundation™ shortly after being diagnosed in 2005, and his legacy continues to live on through the organization’s work. The foundation strives to provide those working to eliminate blood cancers with any necessary materials that may help to improve the quality of life for those affected by the disease. HEADstrong aids the battle to defeat blood cancer through fundraising, raising awareness, providing services to improve quality of life for those affected and education. Through this joint partnership, MLL hopes to meaningfully contribute to their efforts.
“Since our inception in 2006, the HEADstrong Foundation has established an awareness campaign using the color lime green – which is the awareness color representing non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the disease that claimed our Nick’s life,” Nick’s mother Cheryl Colleluori said. “The visibility and representation of HEADstrong on the playing field during MLL’s Burn Cancer Awareness Week, is a tribute to the life and legacy of our founder Nicholas as well as a statement of hope and strength in support all of those living with cancer. We graciously applaud Major League Lacrosse for taking a stance and helping HEADstrong to get aHEAD of cancer.”
Fans in attendance at the games during “Burn Cancer” week will receive lime green HEADstrong wristbands so they can show their support for this great cause. Join us in showing support for the cause by purchasing a pair of HEADstrong’s awareness shoelaces at www.HEADstrong.org/shop or making an online contribution at www.HEADstrong.org/donate.
About HEADstrong Foundation
The HEADstrong Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) committed to being a resource for blood cancer patients and their families, helping them to navigate the harrowing ordeal of cancer by providing essential services to improve quality of life.
HEADstrong™ is an athletic rooted organization that serves the cancer community by granting direct financial assistance to those financially impacted as a result of the disease, by providing complimentary long-term housing and amenities for those traveling to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for cancer related treatments through Nick’s House™, by funding innovative blood cancer research through the Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma research fund, by serving family meals and offering outlets of entertainment for those receiving care at hospitals, by delivering comfort kits to newly hospitalized patients preparing for treatment or transplant and by lending an arm of support through their peer to peer advocacy group.
The blueprints for the Foundation were conceptualized by Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori in 2006, while he underwent treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which ultimately claimed his life. Today, Nick’s vision is being fulfilled through the relentless efforts of his family, athletes and supporters across the country uniting in the fight against blood cancers.
For more information on the HEADstrong Foundation™ please visit to www.HEADstrong.org.
