Gulls Help HEADstrong Foundation Break Fundraising Record

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

BEVERLY, Mass. — This year, the HEADstrong Foundation's Lacrosse Mustache Madness fundraiser was all the more personal to the Endicott men's lacrosse program as one of their own - junior midfielder Will Levine (Southborough, Mass.) - was diagnosed with Large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier this fall. With that in mind, the Gulls were determined to be the top fundraising team in the entire country, and they did just that, to help out a fellow teammate and other families in need.

In total, Endicott raised $21,260 to aid the HEADstrong Foundation in establishing a new fundraising record totaling over $440,000. More than 125 lacrosse affiliated programs took part in this year's Lacrosse Mustache Madness fundraiser whose original goal was set at $435,000.

Meanwhile, Levine also finished as the top individual fundraiser out of thousands of donors after raising $14,309 himself.

Endicott men's lacrosse head coach Eric Hagarty '10 M'11 summed up the efforts of his student-athletes and the success of this year's fundraiser best.

"I couldn't be more proud of our guys. Our team was affected by cancer in one of the most challenging ways with our teammate Will's diagnosis several months ago. One of the first people I called was Pat Colleluori with HEADstrong. With everything going on we knew it would be challenging supporting a teammate we couldn't be with physically, but Pat and HEADstrong have been amazing for our program and Will," said Hagarty. "The team set a goal to be a top fundraising team and they accomplished it. We are lucky to have a special group of student-athletes who are so passionate about not only playing the game but supporting each other and helping a great cause."

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.

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)