St. Lawrence Coach Tom Ryan Puts Legendary Mustache On The Line To Support HEADstrong

Contact: Pat Colleluori
Phone: 610-952-8191
Email: [email protected]

(CANTON, NY) – St. Lawrence University Assistant Coach Tom Ryan is putting his legendary Lax Stache on the line in an effort to raise funds to support families overcome by cancer through the Save or Shave Challenge for Lacrosse Mustache Madness (https://pledge.headstrong.org/KeeporShave)

To facilitate the challenge, campaign organizers have created two unique fundraising pages, one to support Tom saving his mustache, the other for him to shave. Supporters have the ability to determine the future. Throughout the month of November supporters can weigh in by making a donation to either fundraising page. At the conclusion of the campaign whichever page raises the most will win and thus Tom will either save his incredible duster or break out the clippers.

SAVE OR SHAVE CHALLENGE
VOTE & DONATE NOW

Click here for Coach Tom Ryan To SAVE His Lax Stache
or
Click here for Coach Tom Ryan To SHAVE His Lax Stache

As a player, Tom Ryan was truly relentless on the playing field and his infamous dreadlocks only added to his mystique and popularity. At the conclusion of his playing career, Tom shed the dreads and focused on coaching. He was the Head Coach of the US Indoor Team at the 2007 and 2011 World Games as well as for the Boston Blazers (NLL). He coached collegiately at Connecticut College and Belmont Abbey College as well as serving as a women’s assistant coach at Loyola and Towson. In 2014, Ryan began working with the St. Lawrence University men’s team.

In recent years he has grown arguably the best mustache in the game. Tom played for the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League from 2000-2003 and was a hometown favorite of HEADstrong founder Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori and Lacrosse Mustache Madness co-founder Ken Clausen. Now, 17 years later, Ryan is championing Colleluori’s vision of improving lives affected by cancer.

Recently, Ryan had a call with HEADstrong’s Chief Development Officer and Nick’s eldest brother Pat Colleluori who shared just how much he meant to his brother. Upon learning about how Colleluori used his facial hair to take a stand against his cancer, Tom felt compelled to get involved by using his whiskers to make a difference. In addition to the Save or Shave campaign, Ryan also inspired St. Lawrence University men’s lacrosse to get involved this year. Having the Saints involved was all the more personal to Clausen because players Stew and Ben Hutchinson are in fact his cousins.

“What HEADstrong does to support families at their most vulnerable hour is inspiring. Everyone has been affected by Cancer and I am proud to take part in Lacrosse Mustache Madness. It has been fun to see the facial hair progress (or lack thereof) from our players at St. Lawrence University. In a time of distance and isolation, anything we can do to connect and support one another becomes paramount,” said Tom Ryan.

“We are truly honored to have Tom Ryan involved with Lacrosse Mustache Madness this year. We applaud his willingness to use his mustache to advance our mission. We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to Tom for his enthusiasm and support of the cause. Tom was a player that we had the privilege of watching him as kids and we were amazed by the things he could do on the box lacrosse floor in Philadelphia as a member of the Wings. He was certainly a favorite of our Nick so it is quite humbling to have him involved. We’re excited to see the results of this really fun and interactive challenge woven within the fabric of this year’s campaign,” said Pat Colleluori, HEADstrong CDO & Nick’s Brother.

So, to shave or not to shave, that is the question? Make your vote count by making a donation today.

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.

About 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. To date, more than 14,000 collegiate student-athletes, representing more than 327 colleges and universities have participated in Lacrosse Mustache Madness. Additionally, the campaign has engaged more than 24,701 donors having raised more than $1,513,284.75 to support families overcome by cancer and fund nights at Nick’s House for families displaced in the pursuit of treatment.

Proceeds from the campaign will 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.

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