Curtis Lofton Helping Raise Money for Childhood Cancer Research

The former Sooner and Kingfisher native has launched a challenge that donates money for every tackle he makes.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:02 pm

By: News On 6

Curtis Lofton Helping Raise Money for Childhood Cancer Research

Originally Published: Nov 16, 2010 5:8 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

ATLANTA – Former Oklahoma linebacker and current Atlanta Falcon Curtis Lofton has had immediate success in the NFL, but he is making an even bigger contribution off the field.

Lofton recently launched the “Lofton Tackle Challenge,” which is used to raise money for childhood cancer research. As part of the challenge, people can pledge monetary donations for every tackle Lofton makes.

“I think [the challenge] was a collective effort from a group of people thinking of creative ways to raise money,” Lofton said in a live chat with the NFL Players Association. “The tackle challenge benefits both the Falcons and children with cancer.”

All proceeds from those donations will be given to the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally), a group for which Lofton has been a spokesman since 2009.

“The work of Rally means a lot; I've gotten close to a lot of the Rally kids and their families,” Lofton said. “It's awesome what Rally does for them and their families when they need it.”

For every dollar Rally receives, 93 cents goes to support childhood cancer research. In four years, Rally has awarded more than $1.6 million in childhood cancer research grants while supporting 45 projects in 32 hospitals nationwide.

Lofton said his concern with childhood cancer and support of related research groups was born while he was in high school. The daughter of his high school basketball coach was stricken with cancer, and he said her struggle stayed with him.

“My coach's daughter's Morgan had cancer, and when I was at OU, I went to visit her at the Children's Hospital a lot,” Lofton said. “Just to see a little person fight through something like cancer stuck in my heart and I knew it was something I wanted to support.”

Lofton left OU after his junior season in 2008 and was selected by the Falcons in the second round of the NFL Draft. He started 15 games as a rookie, but truly broke out in his second year. He ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL with 133 tackles last season, and leads the Falcons in tackles again this year.

This Sunday, Lofton will face quarterback Sam Bradford for the first time since they were teammates with the Sooners. Bradford has had a solid rookie season, passing for 1,925 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“I’m definitely looking forward to [playing against Bradford],” Lofton said. “It’s always fun playing against a former teammate and a good friend. I last saw him about four or five months ago. We were good friends in college.”

To get more information about the Rally Foundation and its fundraising efforts, or to donate to the cause, you may visit http://www.rallyfoundation.org/.