3rd Annual Nick Colleluori Lacrosse Classic

October 10th & 11th, 2009

I was recently invited to be a part of a very special weekend and fundraising event. Nick Colleluori graduated from Ridley High School in June 2004 as a three-sport athlete and joined the Hofstra Pride Lacrosse team the next fall. With hard work and determination, Nick earned a role on the Hofstra team the spring of his freshman year.

Nick was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in September, which started a brutal fourteen month battle with cancer. Although Nick battled with all his will and might, he lost his battle to cancer on November 28th, 2006. During his illness, Nick not only battled cancer physically, but also mentally. Nick reached out to others with the same illness and counseled them to help them have the same positive outlook that Nick always possessed. In Nick’s own way, he also counseled his family, friends and teammates to help the through this extremely difficult time. He was truly an inspiration to all who knew him. It was Nick’s idea to begin the HEADstrong Foundation, to help those who have been diagnosed with blood cancers, as well as put an end to this horrible disease.

To honor Nick and those affected by blood cancer, each year the HEADstrong Foundation hosts this lacrosse tournament at Ridley High School with the hope of building a team of champions to combat blood cancer. All proceeds will go towards blood cancer research. Each participating team will sell t-shirts on their campus to raise funds and awareness of this disease. Division 1 teams will play 2 regulation games and Division III teams will play 2 one-hour games.

To make the weekend a little more meaningful, HEADstrong has combined forces with our local Leukemia & Lymphoma chapter to partner each participating school with a local blood cancer survivor “hero” to provide additional motivation and inspiration for each team. I have been “adopted” by the University of Maryland and I will be with my team as they take the field for competition this weekend.

To learn more about Nick and the HEADstrong Foundation Mission, please visit www.HEADstrongfoundation.org.

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