Former Jets Player Willie Colon Hosts Summit Lupus Awareness Event

SUMMIT, NJ — Coinciding with the end of the 2022 NFL Draft and the kickoff of Lupus Awareness Month, former Jets player and Mad Dog Sports radio personality Willie Colon visited Summit to host a lupus fundraising event.

The former Super Bowl Champion hosted the 8th Annual Willie Colon Golf Outing for the Lupus Research Alliance on Monday, May 2 at Summit's Canoe Brook Country Club.

Colon's late mother, Jean Davis, died from lupus and the event will benefit the Jean Davis Research Grant.

“I am so grateful for the incredible outpouring of support at this year’s Golf Outing, held each year in memory of my mom Jean who lost her life to lupus," Colon commented. "Funds raised will support the Lupus Research Alliance’s Jean Davis Research Grant to help scientists advance treatments for lupus, a complex autoimmune disease that primarily affects women and people of color.”

Several other NFL players also joined Monday's event. This included:

• Defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons
• Defensive end Jason Hatcher
• Linebacker James Farrior
• Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick
• Linebacker David Harris
• Tackle Max Starks

The sold-out event is expected to raise $350,000 for the Lupus Research Alliance, and this year, aims to exceed the $3 million mark in total funds raised since its inception in 2014.

According to event organizers, 100 percent of every dollar raised goes to enabling the world's top scientists to pursue innovative research studies.

More information about the event can be found here.

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