On October 16, 2010, Rutgers Defensive Tackle Eric LeGrand suffered a career-ending spinal cord injury. His life since has largely been spent defying the bleak prognosis he received with regard to his recovery and raising funds and awareness for research into spinal cord injuries and their treatment.
The New York Red Bulls have collaborated with LeGrand and the Wings for Life Foundation for a few years now, with RBNY supporting the man and his cause with a dedicated game-day of fund-raising and awareness-building at Red Bull Arena. Saturday, April 15, was the appointed day in 2017.