Team USA’s Alex Aust Named 1st HEADstrong Women’s Ambassador

(Holmes, PA) – The HEADstrong Foundation™ is proud to announce the naming of Team USA women’s lacrosse player Alex Aust as their first female spokesperson.  Aust joins a distinguished list of sponsored athletes including: Ken Clausen, Kevin Buchanan, Joel White, CJ Costabile and Tom Schreiber.  As an ambassador of the HEADstrong mission, Aust plans to use her status in the women’s game as a vehicle for raising cancer awareness.  From camp appearances to taking the field wearing HF awareness laces and accessories, she is focused on making a difference and helping to share the impact that HEADstrong is having on behalf of those affected by cancer.

Aust was inspired to get involved with the organization after a close family friend from her home town of Sterling, Virginia was diagnosed with cancer, traveled to Philadelphia to receive treatment and was a guest at Nick House™.  Nick’s House™ is a facility operated by the HEADstrong Foundation which provides complimentary lodging and accommodations to patients and families traveling to Philadelphia for cancer treatment.

“I am very honored to work with the HEADstrong Foundation.  I hope that this partnership can raise awareness in young women about cancer and how we can all help.  I am very humbled to be part of something so amazing and feel that any relationship I can help strengthen between the lacrosse community and families is worth doing.  I hope to spread HEADstrong’s message to as many people as possible.” says Alex Aust

Aust has always led by example, currently serving as the Director of Operations for the Maryland women’s lacrosse program.  As a player, the former All-American helped the team to its sixth consecutive ACC title and the national championship. And was tabbed a Tewaaraton finalist and IWLCA National Attacker of the Year as a senior in 2013.  She finished her career ranked third in career assists (132) and sixth in points (275).  Her 55 assists in 2013 are tied for second on Maryland’s single-season list and her senior year point total (125) ranks third. With seven assists against UMBC in 2013, Aust also owns the top single-game assist mark in Terrapin history.

“On behalf of the HEADstrong Foundation and those affected by cancer we wish to welcome Alex Aust to our team.   Alex has always led by example on the playing field and we know that she will be relentless in her efforts to help raise HEADstrong awareness in women’s lacrosse.  Her accomplishments have inspired young athletes throughout the country and she represents a demographic that we strongly are involved in.  In 2014 alone, over 810,320 women were diagnosed with cancer and having Alex on our team as well as the support of women’s lacrosse players throughout the country we can change the game for these patients and their families.” says Cheryl Colleluori, HF President and Nick’s Mom

About HEADstrong Foundation

The HEADstrong Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) committed to being a resource for blood cancer patients and their families, helping them to navigate the harrowing ordeal of cancer by providing essential services to improve quality of life.

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 blood cancer research through the Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma research fund, by serving family meals and offering outlets of entertainment for those receiving care at hospitals, 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, 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 blood 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!