BEVERLY, Mass. – From October 19 to November 28, the Endicott men's lacrosse program will be participating in the HEADstrong Foundation's Lacrosse Mustache Madness initiative, which is an online fundraising campaign encouraging student-athletes to toss their razors and grow their mustaches to raise funds to support families overcome by cancer.

As of October 22, the Endicott men's lacrosse team has raised $2,530, with a goal of reaching $3,000 by the end of the campaign.

This year, Lacrosse Mustache Madness is all the more personal to the Gulls. Just a few weeks ago, Endicott junior Will Levine (Southborough, Mass.) was diagnosed with Large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This year, HEADstrong will allocate funds from the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) teams to support Will and his treatment.

To support the team and the HEADstrong Foundation's initiative donate here: Endicott Men's Lacrosse Fundraising Page

Meanwhile, this year's fundraising goal for the HEADstrong Foundation is $315,000 to date they have raised $160,652. Over the last 12 years, the campaign has raised more than $1,750,000 to support families overcome by cancer.  

MORE ON LACROSSE MUSTACHE MADNESS

Lacrosse Mustache Madness was created by former professional lacrosse player and UVA standout Ken Clausen, who was inspired to use his own facial hair to honor HEADstrong founder Nicholas "HEAD" Colleluori, an NCAA lacrosse player from Hofstra University who was terminally diagnosed with cancer in 2005. Colleluori's 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. After enduring 14-months of treatment, Colleluori tossed his razor and grew a mustache in the last weeks of his life as an emotional buffer due to his declining physical appearance. In an uncontrollable situation, Colleluori's mustache was a positive buffer and conversation starter which was also a way for him to feel "normal" again.

Proceeds from the campaign aid families overcome by cancer and underwrite nights at Nick's House, a guest family home operated by the HEADstrong Foundation for families forced to travel in the pursuit of advanced cancer treatment and clinical trials.  

Learn more about how you can use your mustache and facial hair to improve lives affected by cancer at www.LaxStacheMadness.com or www.HEADstrong.org. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Demetrius Kazanas '22)