Vanderbilt helping kick off fundraiser in memory of Cockrell

Posted September 20, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Vanderbilt Commodores are helping kick off a fundraiser for a new nonprofit named Turner's Heroes to help pediatric patients and fund research in honor of their former teammate Turner Cockrell.

Coach Derek Mason will match $25,000 of donations in an 82-hour fundraiser that starts Saturday at kickoff against No. 4 LSU and ends Tuesday. The number honors the number Cockrell wore before dying Nov. 29 after a long fight with cancer.

The Commodores also will be wearing a new uniform called "Battle Ready" with a matching helmet featuring 82 rivets to honor Cockrell.

Turner's Heroes was founded by Cody Markel, a fellow Vanderbilt tight end and close friend. The nonprofit helps create hero capes and other activities for patients at children's hospitals and hopes to raise $50,000 with this fundraiser for a grant for pediatric cancer research.

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