PHILADELPHIA – It’s time to break out those razors, say goodbye to those lip warmers and celebrate LaxStache history. Over the past six weeks, more than 1,395 college lacrosse players representing 77 teams united by growing their mustaches, raising money and participating in LaxStache Madness. The annual facial hair fundraising campaign raised a record breaking $245,000 this year for the HEADstrong Foundation, shattering the previous record of $203,000 set in 2016.
The proceeds from LaxStache Madness will be used to fund more than 1,633 complimentary nights of lodging and support for guest families of Nick’s House. HEADstrong is set to open their second Nick’s House location on Monday, Dec. 11. The 7,000-sq. ft. fully refurbished, seven-bedroom, 12-room Nick’s House will provide more than 2,555 complimentary nights of comfort, support and respite annually for families displaced to the Greater Philadelphia Region seeking comprehensive cancer care and potentially lifesaving clinical trials.
Click here to check out a slideshow of some the Best LaxStaches of 2017.
HEADstrong Texas retained their title at Top Fundraising Team with more than $23,046.63, Towson Men’s Lacrosse came in second, raising $18,439.86, which is a team fundraising record! Newcomer University of Utah finished third with more than $16,217.67 while Bryant University saw more than $16,963.43 and UMBC collected $12,395.19. Between participating in their fall event series and LaxStache Madness UMBC has collectively raised more than $15,000 for the cause.
With respect to individual growers, it was Rich Moses of HEADstrong’s Texas chapter who led the pack of 1,394, breaking his previous individual fundraising record with more than $13,963 raised. Lax Stache Co-Founder Todd Faiella raised more than $6,858.48 while former Lax Stache champion Ben Kaminow collected $4,361.79. William Yinger raised more than $3,711.56 and Cole Robertson raised $3,292.92.
One of the hallmarks of the campaign is the National LaxStache-Off, an interactive bracket tournament based on daily incremental gains in which teams go head to head with winners advancing. This year, Towson Men’s Lacrosse captured the National LaxStache-Off crown over Bowdoin Men’s Lacrosse. This year’s National LaxStache-Off featured the most diverse bracket in LaxStache history with a mix of NCAA Division I, II and III, MCLA and NCLL programs.
Click here to view the Final 2017 National Lax-Stache Bracket.
“We’ve had the most incredible year and it has been a very humbling to see the continued support for LaxStache Madness,” said LaxStache Madness creator Ken Clausen. “This year we saw record participation, teams and donors to the campaign. We’ve raised more than $1,000,000 for HEADstrong since our start in 2009 and we are beyond grateful. It has been inspirational to see the generosity, teamwork and philanthropic spirit of so many amazing young men working to support the HEADstrong mission. We could not think of a better way to pay homage to HEADstrong founder Nick Colleluori then raising more than $245,000 this year, especially with the new Nick’s House opening in 10 days.”
LaxStache Madness was created by former professional lacrosse player Ken Clausen while attending Virginia. Marketed around his signature mustache, he believed that growing facial hair was a great way to make a difference while paying tribute to HEADstrong founder Nicholas Colleluori.
The campaign emulates the last six weeks of Colleluori’s life when he himself grew a mustache after losing his eyebrows as a side-effect of treatment. Colleluori longed to feel “normal” and through his mustache found a way to diffuse the negativity surrounding his declining health. Colleluori was a Division I lacrosse player entering his sophomore year at Hofstra when he was terminally diagnosed with cancer. His public fight from the sidelines captivated the nation and from his hospital bed created the HEADstrong Foundation, focused on improve lives affected by the disease.
Since 2009, LaxStache Madness has raised over 1,000,000 to support the cause. LaxStache Madness has become an annual fall tradition for many college lacrosse programs.
“On behalf of the HEADstrong Foundation and those we humbly serve we wish to extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who participated, promoted, contributed or sponsored LaxStache Madness this year. November 28th marked the 11th anniversary our Nick’s untimely passing. The positive energy and love surrounding this incredible campaign continues to be very comforting and uplifting to so many. We continue to be in awe of our lacrosse community and the amazing things that together we are achieving on behalf of families devastated by cancer. I see so much of our Nick in each of our growers and from the bottom of our hearts we wish to thank everyone for embracing us. The funds raised by LaxStache Madness will help us to welcome families with open arms to our new Nick’s House location and will be instrumental in allowing us to strengthen our commitment to families across the country, especially this holiday season.” Cheryl Colleluori, HF President & Nick’s Mom
Please visit www.HEADstrong.org to learn more about how the HEADstrong Foundation is changing the game for those affected by cancer.