HEADstrong Sends Jocelyn To Taylor Swift Concert #JocelynShakesItOff

Philadelphia – This summer Taylor Swift will rock the city of brotherly love with 2 performances at Lincoln Financial Field as part of her ‘1989’ World Tour.  Fans are eagerly awaiting Swift’s return to the region, none more so than 17 year old Jocelyn Nocito, a self-professed Swifty, who has been battling pancreatic blastoma since the age of 2. On Friday, June 12, Jocelyn’s dream of seeing Taylor Swift live will become a reality as she will be the guest of the HEADstrong Foundation™; a non-profit organization committed to improving quality of life for cancer patients and their families.   In addition to providing tickets for Jocelyn to attend the highly anticipated summer concert, HEADstrong is leading the social charge using #JocelynShakesItOff, in hope of attracting fellow Swifties and quite possibly the singer-songwriter herself.  HEADstrong is taking to social media and encouraging others to do the same if effort to coordinate a meet and greet between Jocelyn and the pop sensation.

Jocelyn’s journey against cancer has been one that has pushed her and her family to the brink.  A childhood and adolescence spent in and out of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, undergoing countless rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and experimental treatment.  During her battle, Jocelyn has relapsed 5 times, continuing to endure daily treatments focusing on tumors in her pancreas, liver and brain.  Like Philadelphia’s own Rocky Balboa and HF founder Nick Colleluori, Jocelyn is the definition of a fighter.  Unlike many her age, she has been dealt her fair share of obstacles, but it has been her relentless attitude that has allowed her to shake off the negative and maintain a positive mindset, which captivates and inspires everyone that she meets.  Jocelyn is preparing for yet another round of surgery in which her medical team will attempt to implant a gastric pacemaker which will signal her brain to tell her stomach and intestinal muscles to contract allowing her to properly digest food.  Despite the anxieties of preparing for the surgery, she is waiting in anticipation for Taylor Swift to come to town.

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“We were so moved by Jocelyn’s story and determined to show our support for her and everything that her family has endured over the years.  With Taylor Swift coming to town this summer, we viewed this as a perfect opportunity to doing something amazing for her.  Providing ways of helping both patients and their families sustain normalcy during their battle with cancer is our upmost priority.  We pride ourselves on working directly with families throughout the country to identify ways that we can improve their quality of life.  Our new HEADline Project provides a much needed quality time, a change of scenery, a temporary escape from the realities these families are living and an experience that brings smiles to those who need it most.” says Cheryl Colleluori, HF President and Nick’s Mom

In 2015, the HEADstrong Foundation began providing once in a lifetime experiences and outlets of entertainment to patients and families who have been affected by the disease through the HEADline Project.  Sporting events, concerts, trips and other performances are offered to patients through this new project.  Most recently, HF™ provided a fully catered suite for patients, survivors, caregivers and families to the 2015 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships at Lincoln Financial Field on Memorial Day Weekend.

About HEADstrong Foundation
The HEADstrong Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) committed to improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families through providing essential services.

HEADstrong™ is an athletic rooted organization that serves the cancer community by granting direct financial assistance to those financially impacted as a result of the disease, by providing complimentary long-term housing and amenities for those traveling to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for cancer related treatments through Nick’s House™, by funding innovative cancer research through the Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma research fund, by serving family meals and offering outlets of entertainment, by providing fresh groceries to patients being discharged from lengthy hospital stays, by delivering comfort kits to newly hospitalized patients preparing for treatment or transplant, and by lending an arm of support through their peer to peer advocacy group.

The blueprints for the Foundation were conceptualized by Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori in 2006, from his hospital bed while he underwent treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which ultimately claimed his life.  Today, Nick’s vision is being fulfilled through the relentless efforts of his family, athletes and supporters across the country uniting in the fight against cancers.

For more information on the HEADstrong Foundation™ and how we are Getting aHEAD of Cancer™ or to stay in the know of all the amazing things we’re doing, sign up for email updates below. Also, if you would like to contribute to finding a cure, donate today!