Steelers to hit the hardwood at La Roche University for charity
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The Pittsburgh Steelers Footballers Basketball team will take on the LLS Stompers in a basketball game fundraiser April 26 at La Roche University in McCandless to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia Chapter.
The game will be held at the La Roche University Kerr Fitness & Sports Center, off Babcock Boulevard, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $7 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 412-536-1044.
Both former and current Steelers are slated to play against an LLS fundraiser basketball team, according to Larry Hayward, organizer of the event.
The LLS Stompers will feature players volunteering for the game, some with strong basketball experience, Hayward said. The Pittsburgh Steelers Footballers Basketball Team has yet to announc who will be playing that night, but it should make an exciting game, nonetheless.
“We hope to give the team a run for their money,” said Hayward of Hampton.
The game is being played in recognition of Sam Triulzi, a Hampton High School junior who is battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia after being diagnosed in May, and Nick Vizzoca, a pediatric Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor 35 years ago.
Vizzoca, a Hampton resident, is now president and chief operating officer at Vincentian Collaborative System and has also been nominated as LLS Man of the Year. Six men and six women are nominated, and the man and woman who raise the most will win the title, Vizzoca said. All of the money raised will go toward the LLS, Hayward said.
“Let’s show them what Pittsburghers can do to raise money to stomp out this disease,” said Hayward, whose son attends La Roche.
“It’s all about raising awareness and making a difference in one person’s life and future.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers Footballers Basketball team does fundraisers like these across the area, according to Tom O’Malley Jr., who has been coaching and managing the Steelers basketball team for several decades.
He said they play for various causes in the Tri-State area, whether for fundraisers of high school or college sports teams, fire or police departments, and for causes like this, which helps “bring out attention and focus” to the cause.
O’Malley said the featured Steelers will sign autographs at halftime.
Hayward said fundraising support has already been coming in with so many people contributing in honor or recognition of someone with leukemia or lymphoma.
“Pretty much everybody today has been touched by this disease one way or another,” he said.
The Triulzi family is highly appreciative of the honor and the fundraising effort.
“We are extremely supportive of efforts to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the great work they perform. We want to express our sincere thanks to all who attend the game and the Steelers organization,” said Sam’s dad, Darrell.
Hayward and his wife, Karen, said this is an important fundraiser because LLS focuses on blood cancer research, which can be the gateway to curing other cancers.
Those who can’t make the game and want to support LLS can donate online at this secure website: https://pages.mwoy.org/wpa/pgh19/lhayward.