DETROIT -- The next time you see a Titan men's lacrosse player, ask him how many push-ups he has to his credit and the number just might blow you away as the team is in the middle of a “One Million Push-Up Challenge” fundraiser.
The six-month challenge will help raise funds for the team, the strength and conditioning department and the HEADstrong Foundation. The HEADstrong Foundation for blood cancer is committed to finding a cure for all blood cancers. The foundation is dedicated to its founder, Nicholas Colleluori, a lacrosse player at Hofstra who lost a battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2006.
“The guys were looking for a team building activity and that is how this challenge started,” said assistant strength & conditioning coach Nick Wilson. “It then went on to become a fundraiser for the team, strength and conditioning and charity. The guys ultimately decided on contributing part of the proceeds to the HEADstrong Foundation.”
From the start of school in September and until the start of the regular season in February, the team is attempting to record one million push-ups as a group. It might be before workouts, during practice or back in the dorms while they are hitting the books, but the goal is for the team to come together and reach one million push-ups.
“We wanted to do something different than what other teams normally do for fundraisers,” said sophomore Troy Dennis, who currently leads the team with 7,047. “It is a great goal for us and I take it personally that I want to win and do the most, while helping to raise money for the team and for charity.”
The Titans will display their push-up tenacity this Friday at the Titan Tip-Off event. Players will be in all corners of Calihan Hall pumping them out and will take center court for a display of their strength.
The team is asking for support with the donation as low as 1/2 cent a push-up. For more information on how to make a donation, visit DetroitTitans.com or contact strength coach Wilson at wilsonne@udmercy.edu. All gifts and donations are 100% tax-deductible within the IRS guidelines.
Team Leaders Through Oct. 10
Troy Dennis – 7,047
Adam Nolan – 4,468
Jordan Houtby – 4,252
Brandon Beauregard – 4,127
Ty Maruyama - 4,050
1 comment
the only thing worse than 1 million pushups is 1 million pushup with cell gloves on