MainGate plans more shirts for Tuesday

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Fresh off a big win against the Green Bay Packers, Colts fans have something else to celebrate.

Fans helped raised thousands of dollars for the IU Simon Cancer Center in just a matter of days.

The first run of ChuckStrong T-shirts sold out generating $90,000 for the IU Simon Cancer Center.

It was just a week ago when the team announced Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was battling leukemia.

"Charity and emotion go a long way, especially in this community," said MainGate President and CEO, David Moroknek.

In less than a week's time, the T-shirt has become the most popular shirt in Indianapolis.

"You probably have to go back to Super Bowl days or AFC Championship to really see the rate of sale that we are seeing behind this," Moroknek said.

To show support for Pagano, the Colts created the ChuckStrong T-shirt, selling thousands over the weekend.

"To sell that amount of shirts in literally in two days is pretty impressive," Moroknek said. MainGate is the company responsible for printing and shipping out the shirts.

Moroknek and the Colts started working on the design last Wednesday and the rest is history.

"Forget about whatever is on the production schedule right now; nothing is a bigger priority than this," Moroknek said.

"Knowing that not only are our fans behind us, the entire community is behind him and behind his battle," said Stephanie Pemberton.

Pemberton is the Senior Director of Community Relations for the Colts.

She told 24 Hour News 8 the ChuckStrong name is the brainchild of a simple tweet sent out by Colts punter Pat McAfee.

"He took what has been our mantra so far, which is Colts Strong and turned it into ChuckStrong and it just took off," she said.

And not only did the fans get behind it, so did the Green Bay Packers. They wanted shirts too.

So Sunday during the game at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Packers showed their support for Coach Pagano by wearing white ChuckStrong shirts courtesy of MainGate.

"You know, at the end of the day we're all in this together and we're all behind Coach as he continues this fight," Pemberton said.

If you are looking for a ChuckStrong T-shirt and can't find one, you will be able to find them at the Colts Pro Shop Tuesday and online at ColtsProShop.com . Each shirt cost $20.

Also, starting Tuesday the Colts will be giving away a free poster featuring the face of Coach Pagano.