Cavaliers’ Larry Nance Jr.’s Foundation Surprises IBD Patients with Tickets, Goodyear Blimp Ride

Josh Martin, Mar 07, 2020
Posted in Features

Since January 2017, Larry Nance Jr. has worked side by side with Noah Weber to support people across the country with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) through their Athletes vs. Crohn’s and Colitis foundation. When Larry and the Cleveland Cavaliers came to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Lakers this past January, he and his foundation partnered with Goodyear to treat two high school athletes with IBD to a unique experience.

On the day of the Cavs’ 128-99 loss to the Lakers at Staples Center, Colton Fitzgerald, a junior at Saugus High School, and London Lomas, a sophomore at Ramona High School got to ride in the Goodyear blimp above LA before heading to the arena with their families to meet Larry and watch the game.

Like Larry, Colton and London are both athletes who have battled IBD to remain active in competition and confident in life.

And like so many young people who have been affected by IBD, they found solace and inspiration in Larry’s story and, subsequently, support from his foundation.

"Even if you have this disease, you can still go on and do what you want and play sports and just still succeed,” London said,” just like Larry Nance.”

Josh Martin is the Editorial Director of CloseUp360. He previously covered the NBA for Bleacher Report and USA Today Sports Media Group, and has written for Yahoo! Sports and Complex. He is also the co-host of the Hollywood Hoops podcast. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.