10/27/09

Hofstra lacrosse teams keep Nick Colleluori's spirit alive through 2 fall events


Picture courtesy Hofstra Athletic Communications
The Hofstra women's lacrosse team with the Colleluori family 
at the first-ever Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic
The Hofstra men’s and women’s lacrosse teams recently took part in two separate Nick Colleluori Classics that combined raised over $200,000 aimed at helping find a cure for blood cancer.

The first-ever Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic held on Sept. 26 at Shuart Stadium raised $32,000  while the men’s event that took place at Ridley High School in suburban Philadelphia on Oct. 10 and 11 is estimated by the HEADstrong Foundation to surpass over $180,000. Both of these charity events are aimed at raising money for blood cancer research and to keep alive the memory of former Hofstra men’s lacrosse defenseman Nick Colleluori, who passed away from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on Nov. 28, 2006 at the age of 21. The inspirational story of Colleluori’s courageous 14-month cancer battle as well as the efforts by family, friends and the lacrosse community to fight this deadly disease and honor his legacy through the HEADstrong Foundation were featured in an article written by ESPN.com's Patrick Carney yesterday.

Hofstra women's lacrosse head coach Abby Morgan was honored to be able to help organize the first Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic, which featured 12 teams who each sold 150 HEADstrong t-shirts that together helped raise $27,000. "It was great exposure for the [HEADstrong Foundation] on the women's side," said Coach Morgan of the first Nick Colleluori Women's Lacrosse Classic, which she hopes to see expanded to 16 teams next year.
Since the inaugural Nick Colleluori Men's Lacrosse Classic was held in 2007 at Nick's amla mater Ridley High School, the annual event has raised $405,000 for the HEADstrong Foundation. "I am thrilled to see where the HEADstrong Foundation has grown today," said Hofstra men's lacrosse head coach Seth Tierney. "This is about keeping Nick's memory and spirit alive."

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