By Mallory Mattingly
TODAY co-host Craig Melvin’s brother, Lawrence Meadows, died following a battle with colon cancer five years ago, and Melvin keeps his memory by supporting the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
Before his death, Lawrence asked Melvin to continue to support the Alliance “to raise awareness and funding for screenings, research, and to support caregivers,” per Southern Living.
Melvin has done just that. He and his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, created the Bottoms Up Invitational golf tournament. All the proceeds from the tournament benefit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, for which Melvin also sits on the board of directors.
“This golf tournament is a way to honor Lawrence and advance the Alliance’s cause. We can get more people screened, help patients navigate treatment, and fund innovative research to end this disease once and for all. We’re looking forward to our next outing of connecting with friends old and new,” the Bottoms Up Invitational website reads.
Related: Craig Melvin Tapped to Co-Anchor TODAY SHOW: ‘Thanking My Lord Above’
The event took place earlier this year.
“What an incredible weekend at the Bottoms Up Invitational. We honored the memories of those we’ve lost to colorectal cancer, survivors, and caretakers. It was a party with a purpose that included fantastic music, mediocre golf, and a reunion of family and friends. My heart and spirit is full of gratitude,” Melvin wrote on Instagram on Sept. 16.
“Thank you to everyone who showed up, performed at the concert, partnered with me and @lindsaycz, and have believed in our mission since we lost my brother Lawrence nearly five years ago,” he continued, adding, “This year we were able to raise over 1.1 Million for the @ColorectalCancerAlliance. Get screened. Talk about your family history. Thank you and see you next year.”
Melvin shared his appreciation for the event in a conversation with with Southern Living.
“I didn’t fully appreciate this until last year when I looked around and, I know most of the people in the room, but then you start to see these people talking to the folks that they’ve met the first year or the second year,” the TODAY anchor said. “And then I start talking to some of these folks and [think] oh yeah. This is a room filled with colorectal cancer survivors. It’s filled with people who’ve lost someone to colorectal cancer. It’s filled with caregivers, doctors, nurses, researchers, like everyone in the room, they’ve got that one thing in common.”
Meadows’ children also help support the Alliance’s work.
“My brother’s children, my niece and my nephew, they’re both teenagers now. And for the first time, they thanked me last year for doing this every year to honor him and to keep his memory alive. Yeah. And I hadn’t really thought about that part of it,” Melvin shared.
“When I started with this, we wanted to raise awareness, raise money. That’s it. And it really has turned into so much more than that for a lot of the folks who come,” he added.
What a wonderful way for Melvin to keep his brother’s memory alive.
Read Next: NBC’s Craig Melvin: ‘I’ve Always Believed in the Power of Prayer’
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +2Share:
– Content: +2