Basketball legend Bill Russell becomes a HearStrong Ambassador to support national hearing health awareness.

bill russell Basketball Hall of Famer, Bill Russell, who is a model for teamwork, and universally considered to be one of the best basketball players in history, recently became a HearStrong Ambassador on behalf of the HearStrong Foundation.

“The HearStrong Foundation and EarQ came to my rescue during the 2013 NBA All-Star Game weekend,” says Russell. “I was scheduled to do some national interviews, but I had forgotten my hearing aids at home. Without them, I was worried about doing the upcoming interviews. Luckily, the team from HearStrong and EarQ was there and helped me into a brand new pair of devices. I was able to do the interviews well and fully enjoy the weekend. They came through in the clutch.”

Russell joins other notable HearStrong Ambassadors, such as Jerry West, A.C. Green, Steve Grogan, Robert Horry and Cedric Ceballos.

“We are honored to welcome Bill Russell as a HearStrong Ambassador,” says Ed Keller, founder of the HearStrong Foundation and president of EarQ. “Our goal is to show people that we are defined by how we react to challenges, rather than the challenges themselves. With Bill’s support, and that of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, we are closer to reaching that goal.”

After having been team captain of the 1956 US Gold Medal Olympic Basketball Team, Russell joined the Boston Celtics, where he later became team captain. From 1956 through 1969, Russell captivated his teammates, opponents and fans with his shot-blocking, rebounding, passing, and innovative defense. A five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time All-Star, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA championships in 13 years, a record that has never been approached in any US sport.

Source: HearStrong