UT Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer and President and CEO of the UT Medical Center Joe Landsman announced a new project called “ALL IN” in a press conference Monday.
ALL IN is a combined effort of Tennessee Athletics, the Vol Network, UT Medical Center and UT football fans. The mission of the initiative is to advance Alzheimer’s research at the medical center’s Pat Summitt Clinic, opened in 2017 in honor of late Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball coach Pat Summitt and her fight with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our Tennessee family has been impacted by Alzheimer’s, and my family also has suffered the heartache of the dreadful disease and the toll it takes on all immediate family members as well as their caregivers,” Fulmer said. “It’s past time to act. I’m pleased that our entire Tennessee family is going ‘All In’ to support the fight against Alzheimer’s.”
The purpose of the clinic is to provide care for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and support for caregivers. UT Medical Center also conducts research with a focus on early detection of the disease, treatment options and working towards finding a cure. Fulmer expressed his admiration for the clinic at the press conference.
“We are so blessed to have the Pat Summitt Clinic at the UT Medical Center,” Fulmer said. “Inspired by Coach Summitt’s vision, a team of specialists led by Dr. (Roberto) Fernandez works daily to provide the most advanced treatment for approximately 3,500 patients here in East Tennessee and that number unfortunately continues to grow.”
Landsman also spoke about Coach Summitt’s impact in the community and within the Alzheimer’s research field.
“Once Coach Summitt announced her diagnosis it became very personal for all of us,” Landsman said. “Coach Summitt taught us so much throughout her career and one of the things that she taught us was to work as a team and never give up when you’re facing your toughest offender — and that includes this disease. Which has now become the sixth leading cause of death in our nation.”
In order to fund the endeavor, official ALL IN game day shakers will be sold for $5 at numerous UT partner retailers. The participating merchandisers include: Pilot, Food City, Cracker Barrel Country Store, Kubota, Kroger, Long’s Drug Store, Orange Mountain Designs, Alumni Hall, HoundDogs, the UT Medical Center gift shop, the Vol Shop as well as other Tennessee Team shops inside Neyland Stadium and VolWallArt.com.
Every shaker purchase will benefit the Alzheimer’s Research Initiative and come with a free 20-ounce fountain drink good for any home game this season. The aim of the ALL IN project is for every fan to have a shaker at the UT v. Alabama game on Oct. 20, and join together to “shake down” Alzheimer’s disease.
“I’m continually amazed by the Tennessee fans and how they embrace the Volunteer spirit by coming together to help others,” Landsman said. “It will be exciting to see fans at the game and across the state standing up as one against this terrible disease and in support of the Alzheimer’s research at the Pat Summitt Clinic.”
“Support of ALL IN is critical to the advancement of early diagnosis, treatment and hopefully one day, a cure for Alzheimer’s. Hope for this disease lies in the research,” Landsman added.
“Together we can make a difference and show everyone we are ‘All In’ against Alzheimer’s,” Fulmer said.
Sports Editor Blake Von Hagen and Editor-in-Chief Kylie Hubbard also contributed to this article.
Phillip Fulmer, athletic director of the University of Tennessee introduces Jeremy Pruitt as the new head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team on Dec. 7, 2017.
