William Powell helping run for a cure this October

Saskatchewan Roughriders running back William Powell is helping run for a cure during breast cancer awareness month, with his mom at the top of his mind.

Powell’s mom Darla died of lupus in 2010 while he was in college.

“It was such a traumatic experience for me,” Powell said. “I know that she would have a lot of blackout moments and her blood cell count was not how it was supposed to be and she ended up having a lot of different complications because of the lupus.

“She would have a lot of clotting and numbness and stuff like that in her lower body and it caused her a lot of pain.”

Powell, 31, said other members of his family and friends of his family have battled breast cancer. His mom was the one who provided a lot of the inspiration behind his charity work this month.

“Anything that’s directed towards helping any of those type of diseases or cancer or anything like that, I’m always on board,” Powell said.

Toronto Argonauts running back James Wilder Jr., has his #RunWILDERForACure fundraiser going on throughout the month of October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

Wilder, Powell and six other CFL running backs are all taking part. Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris has his own initiative in place for the month.

As of Sunday, Wilder Jr., said the running backs had raised $1,334. Powell said each running back donates $1 for every yard he gains and $100 for every touchdown he scores during the month of October.

Myself @TorontoArgos
Sutton @Ticats
Powell @sskroughriders
Gable @EdmontonEsks
Madu @REDBLACKS
Stanback @MTLAlouettes
Rutley/white @BCLions
Jackson @calstampeders

Even with a few injuries us @CFL RBs raised $1334 together for breast cancer research so far. Keep it up fellas!!

— James Wilder Jr (@IAm_Wilder32) October 13, 2019

“It’s just another initiative to put forth effort to finding a cure,” Powell said.

Powell will be looking to donate a large sum of money Friday as he returns to BC Place to take on the Lions. Kickoff for the game is set for 8 p.m.

Powell had his best game as a Roughrider the last time the Green and White travelled to the west coast. He amassed 146 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Saskatchewan’s 45-18 win on July 27.

“(B.C. players) are going to be fighting for jobs so guys are going to be scrappy and playing really hard,” Powell said. “It’s going to be a challenging game. It’s going to be a dogfight. You know they’re going to come with their best.”

The Lions will turn to quarterback Danny O’Brien after Mike Reilly suffered a season-ending left wrist injury against the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday.

O’Brien and Powell were on the Ottawa Redblacks together for the 2015 and ’16 seasons.

“He’ll be ready to play. He will do his due diligence off the field, in the classroom and study our defence,” Powell said. “He will be well-prepared so we’ve got to be the same.”

Notes: Guard Philip Blake is to return to the Roughriders’ lineup Friday. He broke his left leg on July 20. Dariusz Bladek will be taken off the active roster in order to make room … Defensive lineman Micah Johnson (ankle) will not play … The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway Friday at 6 p.m.