ERIE, Pa. – Ninth-year head coach Marty Schaetzle and his Mercyhurst College football program will make it a point to take away cancer this season. 

As an individual, Schaetzle will donate $1 per point scored and $5 per takeaway (interception and fumble recovery) by the Lakers during the 2010 season. Additionally, the football program will donate on the same scale. 

“Everyone has been touched in some way by cancer,” says Schaetzle. “We've had two of our own in the past few years fight testicular cancer. This is just a small way that we as a football team can help contribute to the fight against cancer.” 

Schaetzle's “Make a Point to Take Away Cancer” campaign will include all 11 regular-season games in 2010. Any individual or organization who wishes to join the effort to take away cancer may do so by pledging a flat donation or by pledging a dollar amount per point scored/takeaway recorded. 

All money raised will be donated to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. Kanzius was an Erie community member who spent his entire career in broadcast engineering and developed a cancer therapy using radiowaves before his own death from complications related to cancer treatments in 2009. Most recently, the nationally-known Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation won a $250,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project. 

“What coach Schaetzle and the football program are doing is of great value, no matter what the amount raised,” adds director of athletics Joe Kimball. “Cancer affects so many people that any and all efforts in the fight are meaningful.” 

Using 2009 season totals as an example, the Lakers scored 214 points and posted nine interceptions and nine fumbles recoveries. That would give Schaetzle a donation of $304, with the football program matching that figure for a total donation of $608.

To pledge a donation to the “Make a Point to Take Away Cancer” campaign, please complete the on-line form here.

To learn more about the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, please click here.