Elliott Cottington
Reporter
With the fall football season getting into full swing, another example of the Rams’ charitable spirit is rapidly approaching. On October 12, the New Canaan Rams will be hosting the Norwalk Bears in their fifth game of the season, but this is no ordinary game. Each team is asking fans to wear orange in support of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), which aims to raise funds and awareness in an attempt to combat Multiple Myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer.
Independent Events Coordinator for the MMRF Brooke Roberts is looking forward to the chance to spread the word about the deadly disease. “The main goal for this football game is awareness,” she said. “The more people that are aware of Multiple Myeloma and therefore aware of the foundation, the better off we all are.” The hope is that students can help support the foundation, which has opened more than 40 clinical trials and helped bring five new Myeloma drugs to the market in the past ten years.
By getting the word out, students will be supporting the foundation in more ways than one. Helping people learn about the foundation will encourage donations, allowing new research opportunities and clinical trials. Brooke expressed that awareness is key to funding. “The more awareness we have, the more funds we can hope to get,” she said. While the football game is solely a way to increase awareness of the foundation and the disease, it is hoped that the increased awareness will lead to an increase in donations.
Head football coach Lou Marinelli has also shown support for the MMRF. The football team uses the foundation as their main service group that they aim to help. According to him, the football game is another way the team tries to help the community. “It’s a way of our kids giving back to the community and to a foundation that aims to cure Multiple Myeloma,” he said.
So if you are looking for something to do Friday night, the MMRF Tribute Game could use your support. The game starts at 7:00 and is being held at Dunning Stadium. Make sure to wear orange and cheer on the teams that have done so much to help the foundation. For more information about the disease, the foundation, or opportunities to volunteer, please visit www.themmrf.org.
