Market:  New York

Athlete:  Chris Howell, Barclays

Cancer first impacted my life at Hofstra University where I was a member of the university’s lacrosse team.  A member of the team, Nick Collelouri, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL).  Sadly, he passed away in 2006.  Nick's legacy lives on through the Headstrong Foundation and is closely intertwined in the lacrosse community and has raised millions to fight cancer.

When I learned about The D10 in 2015 through a colleague, I knew I had to be involved. The D10 filled a competitive void I was missing from collegiate sports and also gave me the opportunity to make a serious impact in a community that I was already familiar with. Everyone is connected with this terrible disease and it was easy for me to see D10 as an amazing platform to make an impact. 

Game day is a surreal experience, and is flooded with excitement, anxiety, and competitiveness.  I think of this year’s rookies; they’ll be in awe.  

Every athlete has trained for weeks, or months, and is excited to beat the goal they have set for themselves to raise even more money.  Performance-based fundraising takes the whole experience to a new level.

When I think back to game day in 2016, here’s what stood out; Our heat was filled with talented former athletes and the competitiveness was palpable. However, by the time of the 500 meter row came up -- the 6th event of the day -- we all came together to encourage each other to achieve our best times. Whomever was up on the Concept2 rower, we surrounded that person.  We were yelling and cheering with every ounce of energy we could muster.  It was such a rush to have everyone rooting for you to put up a great time in the event.  You need that support.  The rowing event is brutal, but truly showcases The D10’s unparalleled camaraderie. After that moment, I was hooked. I knew I would be back year after year. 

Training for The D10 is a challenge in itself because you have to take an atypical approach.  You’re training for overall athleticism; rowing, vertical jump, football throw, bench press, etc. -- not just ‘beach muscles’.  That training, however, is worth it.  Every early morning workout, extra rep, and choice to hit the track on a cold winter morning pays off.  

In the end, the challenge is addicting and the grander objective -- using our athleticism to fund a pediatric cancer research -- is undeniable.  

The D10 will open your eyes to an incredible community all connected in different ways to fight a disease that has taken so many lives. Together, we’ll win.

Bring it,

Chris Howell