‘Men Wear Pink’: Bill Stull Honoring Late Mother With 3rd Annual Event

Former Pitt quarterback Bill Stull always knew where he would find his mother, Debbie, after a game.

While he may have taken some crap for what sometimes turned out to be a lengthy wait (a starting quarterback does tend to be in high demand), Stull never wasted any time in making his way down the tunnel at what-was-then Heinz Field to the security gate out back.

“She was always right there at the end,” Stull said Tuesday.

It didn’t matter who else waiting, Debbie always came first. He pushed everyone else away — even his girlfriend — to give Debbie a hug and kiss. And then he’d greet everyone else. It’s the type of bond that only a mother and son have, one that even transcends their time together on earth.

Stull lost his mother to breast cancer in 2011, but she’s never truly left him. She remains in his heart and soul and directly in the work he’s done — and continues to do — with the American Cancer Society.

Stull is actively involved in the fight against all forms of cancer. He’s an ambassador for the American Cancer Society, serving as a board member for the Pittsburgh chapter and the chair of the Men Wear Pink initiative in Pittsburgh. It’s through Men Wear Pink (community leaders in areas across the country united in the fight against breast cancer), that Stull is holding an event to raise awareness and money in the fight against breast cancer.

Former Pitt quarterback Bill Stull honors his mother, Debbie, through Men Wear Pink.

Men Wear Pink, the third annual fundraiser honoring Debbie, will be held Thursday, Oct. 3 at Southern Tier Brewing Company at 6 p.m. It’s a fundraising event that also doubles as a way to give those going through a hard time a way to receive some much-needed support and positivity.

And it likely wouldn’t be possible without ties to the Pitt football program.

“At the time, John Pelusi was in charge of doing some things with Pitt athletics on game days and finding partnerships and sponsorships for food and tailgating things for alumni,” Stull said. “And he was telling me how he’s had a great relationship with Anna and Caitlin down at Southern Tier, and he caught word that they were looking for someone to team up with.

“They were actually brewing a pink beer and, they brew the beer right there at the North Shore location, which is really neat. So, we had a quick conversation.
I think John called me about four times in one day to make sure that I got that connection and no one else slid in there before me.”

And it certainly wouldn’t have been possible if another former teammate hadn’t given Stull the push he needed. Dorin Dickerson, a radio host on 93.7 the Fan and All-American Pitt Panthers tight end, was an ambassador himself and convinced Stull to get involved in a cause that hurt a lot to think about but meant a great deal emotionally and physically.

“It was tough for me to get involved early on once my mom did pass,” Stull said. “I was not in the right mindset to be a positive influence for others, to say the least. It took some years, but it actually took a nudge from my buddy.

“Dorin Dickerson was able to give me a healthy nudge saying, ‘Hey, you should at least have a conversation with this lady. I really think you would be good at it, one, but it’d be good for you, too.’ That was a nice, healthy nudge from one of my best buddies there. So, that’s kind of how I got it originally involved and started the conversations and just steamrolled from there.”

There aren’t many, if any, who haven’t been impacted by cancer. That’s one thing Stull has noticed in the time he’s spent with Men Wear Pink.

Whether it’s knowing someone who has been diagnosed or having lost a loved one to the terrible disease, there’s an unfortunate commonality when it comes to cancer. Stull wants to show people — anyone — that there’s so much that can be done to fight back.

Former Pitt quarterback Bill Stull / Pitt Athletics

“The main goal is to raise enough fundraising dollars for the people that are way smarter than me to go find some scientific medicine or whatever the case may be so this doesn’t happen ever again,” Stull said. “Or, at the very least, people can just share on social media about early detection and the statistics behind that, how early detection is still going to be the leading cause and leading focus to beating cancer in general.”

It’s important to be vigilant as early detection is the greatest way to combat cancer, and the American Cancer Society website is an important tool when it comes to risk factors, symptoms and warning signs for men and women of all races and ethnicities. That’s step one — of many.

And when it comes to continuing the fight, there are always ways to contribute. That’s the great thing about Men Wear Pink; it’s a bunch of volunteers who share a common goal of eradicating cancer.

Stull, of course, is doing it in honor of his mom — the woman who made a greater impact on his life than anyone else.

“It means it means the world,” Bill Stull said. “I mean, you can’t put a price tag on it. It’s just the complete fulfillment of doing the right thing and doing something I know my mom would easily without a question do herself for others. And that’s telling the story, gathering the information, letting people know that it’s never too early to ask certain questions that come up in your heart or in your mind.

“Ask the question to your PCP and start from there.
It could be as easy as that and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction, or it could be as easy as just visiting the American Cancer Society website, filtering through there and trying to find any information for your specific age group.”

The Men Wear Pink event is open to all, with all encouraged to attend and help in the fight to put an end to cancer.