Members of the men’s lacrosse team swung by a recently repurposed home in Swarthmore on Feb. 4, 2017. Their efforts pushed towards the completion of HEADstrong’s Nick’s House, which will serve as a home for out-of-town families that are here for cancer treatments.
Accompanying head coach Steve Colfer, was Riley White, Patrick Regan, Riley Michaels, Steve Halko, Mike Gerzabek, Mike Patton, Evan Downey, Colin McGavin and Tommy DeLuca.
“The HEADstrong foundation is a family that really cares about the well-being of others,” junior lacrosse player Riley Michaels said. “Being with the Cabrini lacrosse team and helping out at Nick’s House allows us to give back to such a caring a giving foundation.”
HEADstrong was founded in 2006 by Nicholas Colleluori, who passed away that year from large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As a part of the local community, Colleluori played division one lacrosse at Hofstra before receiving the diagnosis in 2005.
“Mr. and Mrs. Colleluori have such huge hearts and want to help families who need a place to stay in the darkest of times,” Michaels said.
Since 2006, HEADstrong has surpassed multiple milestones including the swift approach to the $10 million mark on money raised for cancer research. HEADstrong has used the tight-knit community that embodies lacrosse in this area to make a huge difference for something that touches so many families every year.
The Nick’s House initiative started in 2011 with the opening of the initial two-story facility that sustains 100 percent occupancy for the families who are going through a terrible time. This facility provides a complimentary, home-like atmosphere to give a break to those spending their days in a hospital undergoing the brutal treatments for cancer.
“The inspiration for Nick’s House derives from the personal experiences endured by HEADstrong founder, Nicholas Colleluori and his family who spent many nights sleeping in chairs and on the floor of the hospital while Nicholas underwent procedures in his bed,” HEADstrong foundation said on their website. “During a stay at the hospital, they met a family who was sleeping their car due to lack of finance while their loved one received treatment inside.”
This project has been described as the greatest accomplishment in solidifying the commitment to those the organization serves. “Nick’s House is a labor of love and will be a beacon of light and a source of strength for families forced to seek cancer treatment in Philadelphia,” President of the foundation and mother of Nick, Cheryl Colleluori said.
The latest progression in the initiative includes a change of scenery for a historic house where several Cabrini guys used their strength and energy in the restoration. They did everything from raking leaves to chiseling a concrete wall.
“Coach Colfer called up and said how can we help? What can we do?” Mrs. Colleluori said. “Their positive attitude and efforts were so appreciated.”
Aside from helping an organization with a lot of common ground with the team, they gained a lot of experience in what goes on behind the scenes of projects like this that are read about. The team was given a full tour of the facility beforehand which included some history about the house.
“We have a very special relationship with the [Cabrini] team, they believe in us and we couldn’t be more grateful. We can’t wait to see their reaction when the renovations are complete and we show them the finished product. The Cavaliers are on reason that HEADstrong is so special!” Mrs. Colleluori said.
