UVa Students Initiate ?Hoos for Herzlich 94? Fundraiser

Story Links

Charlottesville, VA – The University’s Student Council and The ‘Hoo Crew spirit group have created a fundraiser called “Hoos for Herzlich 94” to support research for Ewing’s Sarcoma, in honor of Mark Herzlich, a linebacker for Boston College. As a part of the fundraising effort, the student-athletes on the Virginia football team will donate their per diem for the day of the Boston College game to the cause.

Last spring, shortly after being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. The goal of this initiative is to raise $9,494 and present Herzlich a check prior to kickoff when Boston College visits Scott Stadium on Nov. 14. The goal of $9,494 is in honor of the jersey number (94) Herzlich wears on the football field.

All funds donated will go directly to Uplifting Athletes. Uplifting Athletes is a national non-profit organization aligning college football with rare diseases and raising them as a national priority through outreach, research, education and advocacy. For more information on Uplifting Athletes visit the website www.upliftingathletes.org.

Herzlich spent much of last summer going through radiation and chemotherapy, and recently announced that he is now 99 percent cancer free. Throughout his battle with cancer, Herzlich and his teammates have worked closely with Uplifting Athletes.

“Competition on the field in order to win is very intense, but in the end, all of us involved in the sport are in the same fraternity,” said UVa coach Al Groh. “When a member of the fraternity is involved in something like this, then it is time to really get behind him. Mark is a great player and everyone has great respect for him. We are proud to pitch in and help Mark and other young men in similar circumstances. We were thrilled to learn it did not take Mark until the fourth quarter to win this one.”

Those wishing to make donations online can do so directly at:

https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/uplifting/campaign.jsp?campaign=74.

Checks (made out to: “Uplifting Athletes, memo line-UVa) can be sent to:

UVa Student Council

Newcomb Hall Box 400705

Charlottesville, VA 22904