St. John's University Athletics
Johnny Thunderbird Set To Rappel 480 Feet For Fight Against Cancer
6/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | General
June 19, 2013
QUEENS, N.Y. - For the second year in a row, St. John's mascot Johnny Thunderbird will be taking to the sky in the fight against cancer. On Friday, June 21, Johnny will rappel down a 480-foot skyscraper for Over The Edge NYC, a star-studded event which has raised more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society to date.
Johnny will rappel alongside Major-Elect of Jersey City Steve Fulop, Huffington Post Blogger Peter Robert Casey, bestselling author Peter Shankman, New York Liberty mascot Maddie and hundreds of others from the Harborside Financial Center Plaza 5 building located just across the Hudson River in Jersey City, N.J.
Johnny is scheduled to rappel all 34 stories of the Harborside Financial building at the same time as Major-Elect Fulop.
"We are very excited to have Johnny flock to this opportunity to represent the Red Storm again in this year's American Cancer Society skyscraper rappel," said St. John's Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing and Promotions Karli Hausman. "Last year, he was able to take his support of the American Cancer Society to new heights and really enjoyed the experience!"
Johnny isn't the first member of the Red Storm basketball family who has helped in the fight against cancer.
In April of 2011, St. John's head men's basketball coach Steve Lavin announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lavin was forced to miss most of the 2011-12 season in order to fight the disease that affects so many.
Today, Lavin is cancer-free and continues to work with numerous charities, organizations and events centered on finding a cure for cancer. On April 19, Lavin was a featured speaker for St. John's University's Relay for Life, a fundraising effort and all night event completely driven by St. John's students. The 12-hour event, held in Carnesecca Arena, drew more than 1,800 participants - including 1,639 students - and raised a record-breaking $105,130 in contributions to the American Cancer Society.
Lavin has had presence in multiple local and national cancer organizations both before and after his diagnosis in September of 2011. For seven years, he has been a part of the President's Club leadership giving group of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a group that includes Duke's Mike Krzyewski, Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Kentucky's John Calipari. Earlier this year, Lavin led more than 400 fans of the St. John's men's and women's basketball teams in raising more than $45,000 for pediatric cancer research at St. John's University Service Day "Dribble for the Cure."
Cancer has also played a role in the history of the Lavin family. Most notably Lavin's father Cap, a 22-year prostate cancer survivor prior to his passing February, and his mother Mary, who overcame skin cancer.
Keep track of the day's events on Twitter by following the handles @OvertheEdgeNYC and @StJohnsRedStorm.