MLL Real Men Wear Pink Challenge to Launch this May

Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier outdoor professional lacrosse league, announced today that the American Cancer Society will become the first official league-wide charity of choice beginning with the 2017 season. The long-term partnership will kick off this May with the MLL Pink Challenge, a variation of the American Cancer Society's national fundraising program, Real Men Wear Pink.

"For the first time in the seventeen-year history of our league, we have united every team behind a singular philanthropic effort," Commissioner David Gross said. "It is an honor to name the American Cancer Society as the first official charity of MLL. Too many lives have been touched by this disease and we are hopeful our partnership can play a small part in the eventual eradication of all forms of cancer from our world."

The traditional Real Men Wear Pink program was created by the American Cancer Society to give men a greater presence in the fight against breast cancer. The campaign takes place in over 200 communities, mostly during the month of October. Real Men Wear Pink features a group of dedicated and distinguished community leaders who are determined to help save lives from breast cancer by committing to raise awareness and funds. During the month of May, Major League Lacrosse teams will face off in the Real Men Wear Pink Challenge benefitting the American Cancer Society.

"We are honored to be selected as the first official charity of Major League Lacrosse," said Sharon Byers, chief development and marketing officer, American Cancer Society. "Our partnership offers a strategic opportunity to team up with lacrosse fans across the country to continue our fight against a devastating opponent. We look forward to engaging the lacrosse community in breast cancer awareness and fundraising through the Real Men Wear Pink Challenge."

Lacrosse fans can pick their favorite player and pledge for every goal, save, or groundball they record through the specially designed Pledge It website MLLPinkChallenge.org. The funds raised by each player will help their team reach the top of the leaderboard and be crowned "Real Men Wear Pink Team of the Year," helping to lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Each team will host a "Pink Out" game where fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game. The nine teams also have unique promotions in place to raise awareness and support for their endeavor to earn the Real Men Wear Pink Team of the Year.

According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2017, an estimated 252,710 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and an estimated 41,070 will die from the disease this year. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and it is the most common cancer diagnosed in women other than skin cancer.

See below for the full list of MLL Pink Challenge captains for each team:

Atlanta Blaze: Scott Ratliff, Anthony Kelly

Boston Cannons: Will Manny, Davey Emala

Charlotte Hounds: Mike Chanenchuk, Brendan Fowler, Charlie Cipriono

Chesapeake Bayhawks: Brian Phipps, Charlie Raffa

Denver Outlaws: Matt Bocklet, Jeremy Sieverts, Drew Snider

Florida Launch: Austin Kaut, Tucker Durkin, Steven Brooks, Duncan Clancy

New York Lizards: Paul Rabil, Rob Pannell, Greg Gurenlian

Ohio Machine: Steve Waldeck, Marcus Holman, Dominique Alexander, Tom Schreiber, Peter Baum

Rochester Rattlers: Ned Crotty, John Galloway, Drew Simoneau, Jordan Wolf

Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded by Jake Steinfeld and is headquartered in Boston. MLL has continued to lead the sport of lacrosse into the mainstream of competitive team sports over the past 17 years. The league is made up of nine teams: The Atlanta Blaze, Boston Cannons, Charlotte Hounds, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws, Florida Launch, New York Lizards, Ohio Machine and Rochester Rattlers.

For more information, call 800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.