Ever since women’s basketball Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis announced her stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, the collegiate community has rallied together locally and nationally in support.
Southern Miss Athletics started the #McNelisStrong campaign on Jan. 22 in response to a massive outpour of support for Lee-McNelis. The athletic department, to add to the #McNelisStrong campaign, now offers silicone wristbands with “#McNelisStrong” and “tough as nails” written on them.
According to Southern Miss Athletics, the athletic department has given out more than 1,500 #McNelisStrong wristbands as of Feb. 5.
Around 30 women’s college basketball teams across the country have shown their support for #McNelisStrong by wearing these wristbands, as well as t-shirts and ribbons, at games.