BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Wednesday was Sean Wallace Day inside the Anthony Lawrence Collection store in Baton Rouge.
The Southern University assistant coach was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer earlier this month, so the store arranged a benefit to help the Wallace family with medical expenses.
Barry Harrison arrived as soon as the store opened and made it a mission to support the cause.
“Drove up from New Orleans today to shop and just to purchase a few items to see how we may be able to help out,” Harrison said.
As a Southern University alumni and someone who grew up in the same general area of New Orleans as Wallace, Harrison says the coach and former Jaguars player has made a big impact.
“We just wanted to come and do our part. We are quite proud of this young man. He’s an example of what a student and an athlete could become as an adult and in society, in our community. So we just wanted to come and help.” Harrison said.
General manager Dirk Ricks said it’s important for the business to give back with proceeds, especially as a store that sheds light on HBCUs.
“Coach Wallace has been a very vital part of the community in Baton Rouge,” Ricks said. “We’re here not just for ourselves, but also to be a vital and important part of the community.”
Now as Wallace recovers, Harrison hopes others unite to help and wants to send a special message to the assistant coach and his family.
“Remain prayerful and know that you are not alone in this fight. There are thousands of us. Now I see hundreds of thousands of us that own this battlefield with you,” Harrison said. “Hang in there.”
