Former New England Patriot Devin McCourty was honored Thursday night while the Boston Celtics hosted the Los Angeles Lakers. During a mid-game ceremony, the three-time Super Bowl winner was named the night’s “Hero Among Us,” an award granted each home game to an outstanding member of the community.
McCourty and his twin brother Jason created a campaign called “Tackle Sickle Cell,” an initiative to bring awareness to the disease. The Celtics announced in a press release that, according to the American Society of Hematology, sickle cell disease affects 100,00 Americans, including 1 in 13 Black individuals.
The McCourtys have both been personally impacted by SCD. Their father, who passed away when they were 3, carried the disease. Their aunt and uncle are both living with SCD. Through their fundraising and advocacy, the brothers have helped to raise more than $1.2 million for research and care at Boston Medical Center.
Jaylen Brown named to 2024 Eastern Conference All-Star Team https://t.co/Z9EZXg9tCn pic.twitter.com/pw0xHvNREu
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 2, 2024