NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sickle cell disease is no laughing matter to Jason McCourty.
But the Titans cornerback is using a comedy event to help raise awareness, and money, for a disease that's had an impact on his family.
On Monday night, November 14th, McCourty is hosting Tackle Sickle Cell Comedy Night at Zanies in Nashville. The fundraiser supports the Tackle Sickle Cell Campaign started by Jason and his twin brother, Patriots safety Devin McCourty.
The show will be headlined by comedian Nore Davis, who himself has sickle cell disease.
General admission tickets and a limited amount of VIP tickets, which include a pre-show meet & greet with McCourty, are available. Zanies is located at 2025 8th Avenue South in Nashville.
The show starts at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 7pm for general admission and 6pm for VIP ticket holders.
To purchase tickets visit TackleSickleCell.org/Events.
"We're looking forward to a good night to raise money to bring awareness to the sickle cell disease,'' McCourty said. "It is amazing as you do things in the community, and you start to speak up for a cause, the amount of people you can impact. It's been really positive."
During the 2013 offseason, Jason and Devin spearheaded "Tackle Sickle Cell," a campaign aimed to educate the public, increase blood donations and raise money for the fight against sickle cell disease. The McCourty twins also host a 5K run/walk, a Tackle Sickle Cell Casino Night and Tackle Sickle Cell blood drive.
For more information, visit www.tacklesicklecell.org, which contains facts and statistics on sickle cell disease as well as info on how the public can get involved. Be sure to follow @TackleSC on Twitter and join the conversation by using #TackleSC.
The McCourtys have an aunt who has disease. Their father had the trait and an uncle also has the disease.
"We are very close to our aunt and to watch her go through it throughout the years of struggling and suffering and being strong with it inspired us to want to get involved and give back,'' McCourty said. "The more people we have talking about it in the community is a true measure of the impact it is making."
