Sticks & Stones to Conquer Prostate Cancer

On April 18, the Quinnipiac University men's lacrosse team hosted a "Sticks & Stones to Conquer Prostate Cancer" fundraiser as part of a season-long campaign to benefit Athletes for a Cure. The fundraiser took place in conjunction with the Quinnipiac Bobcats' home season finale game versus the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

In addition to a raffle, the team sold ice cream, t-shirts and prostate cancer awareness wristbands, with all proceeds going to prostate cancer research.

Team athletic trainer, Rebecca Vozzo and the Bobcats selected prostate cancer as their cause after Vozzo's father, Martin Vozzo, was diagnosed with the disease. And while prostate cancer has historically been recognized as an older man's disease, the college-aged athletes still recognized the importance of funding research towards advancing treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer.

"This cause is very important to me and all the players have been so great with their fundraising efforts," said Rebecca. "My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2006, and had a radical prostatectomy in January 2007. As a result he is currently cancer-free, athough he still goes for regular check ups. Hopefully our fundraiser we'll lead to future cancer-free dads."

To date, the Bobcats team has raised more than $16,000 for prostate cancer research in participation through Athletes for a Cure.

Team members: AJ Alessi, Billy Alessi, Ryan Andrews, Mike Annunziata, Matt Baker, Kevin Benzing, Mike Bucchino, Mitch Cooper, Chris Coppolecchia, Adam Dahlgard, Alex DeAlmeida, Zach Dendas, Ted Dimond, AJ Drivas, Pat Elliott, Drew Falkenhan, Derek Flynn, Mike Gast, Jimmy Gianfelice, Jake Glebocki, Pat Gleeton, Billy Hayes, Todd Kaiser, Kevin Kelly, Garett Kerr, Matt Kusiak, Crandon Leahy, Sean LeBlanc, Alex Marotto, Grant Marston, Chris Messina, Chris Meyer, Gary Messina, Matt Minor, Ben Mullaney, Jack Oppenheimer, Zach Pall, Jamie Prudden, Matt Schairer, Brian Straub, Bailey Tuthill.