Holmes, PA- In an effort to further their commitment to advocating and promoting blood cancer awareness the HEADstrong Foundation is proud to announce that Chicago, Illinois has been selected as the first stop on their 2012 Tour For A Cure. The event is being hosted in partnership with Aloha Tournaments and the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Inaugural Chicagoland Lax Getaway will be held on September 29-30, 2012 at Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, IL. The event will be open to both boys and girls lacrosse programs. Boys divisions will play on Saturday September 29th and will consist of U-13, U-15 and High school. Girls programs will play on Sunday September 30th and consist of Middle School and High school divisions. Team registration will cost approximately $850; additionally teams are encouraged to collect pledges in an effort to support the fight against blood cancer. Each team will play (4) games and champions will be awarded in each division.
The event will be formally introduced at a press conference and presentation this weekend at the IHSLA Lacrosse Meeting on Sunday May 20, 2012 at the Hillside Best Western located at 4400 Frontage Road, Hillside, Illinois, 60162-1734.
This September competitive lacrosse teams from all levels will travel to the Chicago Southland from all over the mid-west and early predictions estimate a $300,000 economic impact for the region. With a portion of the proceeds generated from the event benefitting the local blood cancer community.
“This tournament will bring top players into the Chicago Southland and will hopefully continue to expand the popularity of lacrosse in the Midwest,” said Chris Hutchins, one of the partners of Aloha Tournaments. “Working with the HEADstrong Foundation will help elevate the visibility of blood cancer and the excellent work the folks at the HEADstrong are doing every day.”
“We expect this festival to be a great success and attract outside visitors to the region and support a great cause as well,” said Jim Garrett, President/CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We hope to grow this festival and attract other lacrosse festivals and tournaments to the great facilities we have here in the Chicago Southland.”
“September is recognized as National Blood Cancer Awareness Month and we wanted to host an event with an emphasis on outreach during this month within the lacrosse community. The Midwest has been so embracing of our cause and we are both honored and excited to bring this event to Chicago. Our goal is to continue my son’s vision of promoting blood cancer awareness while generating funds to allow the HEADstrong Foundation to provide our service offering to patients and families dealing with this disease. A concentration of our proceeds from the event will directly benefit patient care efforts in the Chicago metropolitan area. We wish to thank Aloha Tournaments and the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau for their support.
- Cheryl Colleluori, HEADstrong President and Nick’s Mom
About Aloha Tournaments: Aloha Tournaments develops, promotes and hosts youth athletic tournaments around the country. They have developed over a dozen lacrosse and field hockey tournaments with the belief that the tournament is not just a few games and a trophy, but gives players and fans the feeling that they have enjoyed a celebration of their sport. www.alohatournaments.com
About the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau: The Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing and management organization for the 62 communities of the Chicago Southland. The CVB markets the region as a leisure, meetings and conventions, group tour, and sports event destination. www.visitchicagosouthland.com.
About The HEADstrong Foundation: HEADstrong Foundation works to advocate, raise funds for and to support those affected by blood cancer or working to eliminate it. HEADstrong Foundation generates funds for blood cancer research, distributes grants and provides assistance to patients and survivors of blood cancer. In addition, HEADstrong Foundation awards scholarships and grants for students with ambitions of entering the medical field. Founder Nick “Head” Colleluori” attended Hofstra University where he played lacrosse. While at Hofstra Nick was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. While sick he began counseling other patients and began laying the framework for what would become the HEADstrong Foundation, in an effort to raise cancer awareness and help others and future patients that found themselves in a similar situation. In August of 2006 he even found the strength to play in one last lacrosse game. Nick passed away on November 28, 2006 at the age of 21. Even though he is gone, his memory and relentless determination lives on through the HEADstrong Foundation.