
The day was organized in part to support the son of Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. His son, James, has had multiple bouts with cancer. The 10-year old has undergone chemotherapy on multiple occasions as he fights the disease. Childhood cancers are the No. 1 disease killer of children - more than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.
"Beat Cancer" T-shirts in both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa school colors are currently being sold at beatcancertoday.org with proceeds going toward cancer research.