Jordan Hill helps out with breast cancer awareness efforts

Lakers#27 Jordan Hill blocks a shot by Cleveland#40 Tyler Zeller The Lakers faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in a regular season NBA game at Staples Center. Los Angeles, CA January 14, 2014.(John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

Lakers#27 Jordan Hill blocks a shot by Cleveland#40 Tyler Zeller The Lakers faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in a regular season NBA game at Staples Center. Los Angeles, CA January 14, 2014.(John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

Jordan Hill will embark on an effort that bodes far more importance than grabbing a rebound or making a defensive stop.

The Lakers forward will run in the Susan G. Komen LA Chapter’s “Rally for the Cure” race on March 1, an event stemmed in raising awareness and funds for breast cancer treatment.

“There is an urgency for women to become aware and educated about early detection,” Hill said in a statement. “I am encouraging friends, family and fans to come out, join my team and walk or run with me to help provide mammograms for women in the Los Angeles community.”

Hill’s words hit close to home. The 26-year-old lost his mother Carol because of complications with breast cancer when he was only three years old. Hill’s sister and stepmother also detected early signs of breast cancer, though they received the necessary treatment to defeat it.

That’s why Hill’s one of many tattoos includes one on his left arm that features a basketball with Carol’s name on it. Above and beneath the name entails this message: “In Loving Memory. Doing it for You.” Hill has lived up to those words by participating in last year’s race shortly after having hip replacement surgery that sidelined him for 53 games. For the Lakers’ season opener against the Clippers, Hill also bought 20 tickets for breast cancer survivors and members of the Susan G. Komen LA Chapter.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com