Former Ohio State, NFL Football Player James Cotton Tackles Tobacco

COLUMBUS OH (03/19/2013)(readMedia)-- There have been a lot of tackles in the career of James Cotton and not just during his career as a football player for Ohio State and the NFL.

Now that Cotton has retired from football, he's teaming with the American Lung Association to tackle youth tobacco prevention.

To help support that work, Cotton and the American Lung Association will be hosting the inaugural Fairways for Airways: Buckeye Celebrity Golf Classic, on Monday, April 22, at OSU Golf Club's Scarlet course.

Participants in the event will spend the day with former OSU Football legends such as Jim Lachey, James Cotton, Matt Wilhelm, Raymont Harris, Rodney Bailey and many more. Each foursome will be paired, with one OSU great.

This spectacular event is expected to attract over 100 avid golf enthusiasts from central Ohio and beyond.

Not only will players golf along-side Buckeye greats, but there will also be an autograph session with the OSU celebrities, a cocktail reception, a one-of-a-kind live/silent auction, dinner with dessert, and tournament day awards. In addition, all players will have a $100 credit to be spent as they choose in the NIKE Concept Shop.

Proceeds from the days' events go toward:

  • The American Lung Association's programs and services to fight lung disease and promote lung health:
  • Flying Horse Farms camp, in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, that provides week long camping, for children with chronic illnesses, including a week long asthma/lung disease camp;and
  • James Cotton's Buck-Icon Foundation, which is a civic organization, founded to encourage former Ohio State players to become vital parts of their community.

One focus of the Buck-Icon Foundation is the Tackle Tobacco Campaign. Members of the Buck-Icon Foundation speak to students, athletes, parents, administrators and coaches on the importance of maintaining a tobacco-free lifestyle by illustrating the short and long-term effects of tobacco use.

With the support of the American Lung Association, James and other Buck-Icon members have the opportunity to speak to thousands of our nation's youth, on the topic of tobacco use. They not only encourage the youth to never use tobacco or drugs, but encourage them to become activists themselves by encouraging their family members and friends to quit smoking or to never start.

Every year, nearly 400,000 Americans die of lung disease, which includes asthma, lung cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis (COPD) and other lung diseases. Lung cancer is the #1 deadliest cancer, killing more people annually than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. Asthma is the #1 reason for missed school days by our children in Central Ohio as well as across the nation.