Lowell man brings 'Pink Arrow' concept to college | News

CARBONDALE, Ill. (WZZM) - Lowell High School's Pink Arrow Project has gone to college... out of state.

The Pink Arrow project, which raises funds for cancer awareness and support in West Michigan, was started by Lowell football coach Noel Dean four years ago.

Former Red Arrows football star Mike McElroy took the idea with him to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

McElroy, a senior starting safety at SIU, started the 'Salukis Black Out Cancer' game, held last Saturday against Eastern Illinois.

The school allowed fans to bid for their names to appear on special uniforms the team wore Saturday, similar to Lowell's Pink Arrow Project, which places the names of those affected by cancer on the back of its pink jerseys each season.

The bidding process for Saturday's 'Black Out' game raised over $129,000 with 100-percent of the proceeds going towards the American Cancer Society in Southern Illinois.

It's the first program of its kind in college football.

"I hope this is something you're remembered for," McElroy said. "I'm excited that if this is the legacy that I get to leave, this is it."

McElroy will wrap up his college college career Saturday against Indiana State.  He's second on the Salukis in interceptions and was rated among the top 10 defensive backs in the nation by The Sports Network.

He's hoping the 'Black Out' leaves a bigger impact than any hit he's delivered in Carbondale.

"Records are going to be broken, someone's always going to have more tackles than you," McElroy said.

"This is something that we can say as a senior class, 'We did this. This was something we put into motion.'"

Lowell's Pink Arrow Project has raised more than $700,000 since its inception.  It was recently featured on NBC's Today Show.