The Welles Park Cowboys Make an Inspiring, Pink DonationThe Welles Park Cowboys traveling football team—a group of 23 10- and 11-year-old athletes from the North side of Chicago—recently raised $1,500 in support of breast cancer research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Each year, the team of 5th and 6th graders works on a community service project under the direction of their coach Andy Ekern, a retired National Football League (NFL) player. This year, the Welles Park Cowboys focused on helping those with breast cancer. During the month of October, inspired by the NFL’s tradition of wearing pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Welles Cowboys donned not only pink gloves, shoes, towels, chinstraps, and socks, but decided to go “extra yards” to raise needed funds. With the help of some team moms, the team organized a pink raffle to be held at its last home game. The raffle was a huge success, thanks to generous donations from WGN, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Cubs, the Northwestern Wildcats, and others.  | The Welles Park Cowboys present a check to Dr. Steve T. Rosen,Genevieve E. Teuton Professor of Medicine, and director of the Lurie Cancer Center
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Teammates also made posters displaying the names of courageous women in their lives who have been affected by breast cancer. Displayed in their stadium, these posters helped to further awareness of their cause. The Lurie Cancer Center is committed to scientific discovery, advancing medical knowledge, providing compassionate, state-of-the-art cancer care, and training the next generation of clinicians and scientists. Thanks to the Welles Park Cowboys, the Center’s multi-faceted mission continues, fueled not only by the team’s philanthropic dedication, but by its touching devotion to the care of women with breast cancer. Photo Credit: Nathan Mandell | 
