As Craig Melvin gears up for the fourth annual Bottoms Up Invitational golf match, he opened up about how his late brother, Lawrence Meadows, impressed the occasion.
“We began this factor after my older brother died. He was 43 on the time, and he died from colorectal most cancers, and he was recognized at 39,” Melvin shared in an interview with Us Weekly revealed on Friday, September 12. “He was a Baptist minister, father of two, and an entrepreneur. And it actually was a kick. It was a punch within the intestine when he acquired the prognosis.”
Melvin recalled “doing a good quantity of advocacy work with the Colorectal Most cancers Alliance primarily based in D.C.” earlier than Meadows’ passing, including, “It’s America’s largest charity dedicated to ending colorectal most cancers in our lifetime. It appeared like a pure match.”
Upon studying that he was “not going to outlive his most cancers battle,” Meadows inspired Melvin to maintain advocating for colorectal most cancers consciousness. “He insisted that I proceed to work after he was gone, so I’ve finished that,” Melvin famous. “We use the megaphone on the At this time present to boost consciousness and encourage people to get screened, and we’ve been doing that for various years now.”
It was a star pal who advised that Melvin flip his advocacy right into a sporting occasion. “A buddy of mine, a number of years in the past, he was like, ‘You actually may in all probability elevate some cash as properly when you had a golf match and a live performance,’ and that was Darius Rucker,” he shared.
Since Melvin and his spouse, Lindsay Czarniak, hosted the primary Bottoms Up Invitational in 2021, the occasion has raised “about $3.2 million” for the Colorectal Most cancers Alliance.
“We count on to boost one other million this yr,” Melvin informed the outlet. “This yr, we’re going to listen to from a person who’s acquired stage IV colorectal most cancers proper now. He’s acquired a 5-year-old son, and he’s within the battle of his life. So now we have these survivors and now we have sufferers, and now we have medical doctors and nurses and caregivers as properly. All of them come collectively for a celebration with a goal, doing the great work.”
This yr’s Bottoms Up Invitational tailgate and live performance will happen on Sunday, September 14, adopted by the golf match on Monday, September 15.
Again in December 2020, Melvin introduced that Meadows had died on the age of 43 by way of Instagram. “We misplaced our older brother this week. Lawrence Meadows was a husband (to Angela, his childhood sweetheart), father (to Addie, 11 and Lawson, 7) Baptist minister, entrepreneur, and among the finest human beings you’ll’ve ever recognized,” he wrote. “Colon most cancers robbed him and us of a lot. He was recognized at 39. He died Wednesday at 43. He spent a good period of time over the previous few years elevating consciousness in regards to the illness. We’ll be maintaining that battle. We love you, bro.”
Over time, Melvin has continued to focus on the significance of colorectal most cancers screenings and consciousness on At this time. Again in March, Melvin designed a At this time-themed hoodie and sock set for Colorectal Most cancers Consciousness Month, which he wore on the present.
“In recognition of Nationwide Colorectal Most cancers Consciousness Month NBCUniversal can be making a donation in help of the Colorectal Most cancers Alliance,” he shared in a March 4 Instagram put up in regards to the specialty gadgets.