by Libby Schrack

If there is one thing people know about Northeast Ohio it’s that we have little luck when it comes to professional sports teams. I’ve lived in Ohio my entire life and year after year it seems that the Cleveland teams always end up with a losing record; however, the fans still remain loyal. Because of this, I wasn’t surprised when we drove into Cleveland the night of the Cavaliers game as well as The Tribe home opener, and were stopped in traffic due to all of the loyal fans.

Quicken_Loans_Arena

Once my crew (including my mom, my brother Adam, his girlfriend Angie and my boyfriend Brandon and I) arrived at Quicken Loans Arena, we got to work. We set up two different tables that were lit up with BLUE lights (of course) and on the tables we gave away I Heart Booty bracelets, Fight CRC koozies, along with informational brochures and pamphlets.

Libby_Schrack_Cavaliers
Strong_Arms_Cavs_Game

About an hour before the game started people began roaring into the arena. Many people walked by the resource table we were stationed at and stared, trying to figure out why we were there. There was also the occasional person that saw the table and said, “Awe that’s sad, it’s about cancer,” and then kept walking.

Kids loved the bracelets and the young adults really enjoyed the koozies! There were also people that came up to tell us their story and how they’ve been affected by colon cancer. I met a girl whose father was diagnosed just five months ago, and she told me how great it was that we were there raising awareness. That was a really fulfilling moment for me.

Quicken_Loans_Arena

As the Cavaliers began warming up, my boyfriend and I decided to go and take a sneak peak since we had been manning the information booth up to that point. As we sat down, I looked up at the jumbotron and saw Luke Perry. The PSA was being aired – talk about an exciting moment! There were at least 20,000 people at the arena that night, and to think that many people could see that 30 second clip was fascinating to me. I loved knowing in that moment we were raising awareness and connecting with people.

As the game continued we all took turns one-by-one working at the table, raising awareness and meeting new people. It was a fun and exciting night. Even though the Cavaliers ended up losing, I think the night was a complete win for Fight CRC.

Fight Colorectal Cancer thanks the Cleveland Cavaliers for such a warm welcome on Colon Cancer Awareness Night - April 10, 2015! We also thank Quicken Loans for the opportunity to attend the game as well as Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Genentech who enabled us to put a BLUE thunderclapper in each fan's hands at the stadium that night!