Today’s Craig Melvin Shares ‘Big Announcement’ With a Sentimental Meaning: ‘In Honor of My Brother’

Today cohost Craig Melvin recently shared a special announcement relating to a cause near and dear to his heart.

The NBC personality, 45, took to Instagram to share photos of his newly designed, Today-themed blue and orange quarter zip pullover and sock set on Tuesday, March 2. The clothing items, which also featured a small blue ribbon design, were part of an annual collection made to raise awareness for colorectal cancer with a special nod to his beloved late sibling, Lawrence Meadows.

“Big announcement!” Craig wrote in the caption. “Last year, I was inspired to design and create a TODAY tie and sock set in honor of my brother, Lawrence, who passed away from colorectal cancer back in 2020. This year, I went the sportier route and designed a quarter zip and sock set. With your help, we can raise greater awareness about the importance of preventive screening.”

The TV host added that the socks and pullover would be available both online and in person at The Shop at NBC Studios.

Craig then shared one final piece of exciting news. “In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, NBCUniversal will be making a donation in support of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance,” he wrote.

Craig also shared a follow-up video on Wednesday, March 5, to share that the socks and pullover are both available now.

“March, as you probably know, is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of that and in honor of my brother, who I lost to the dreadful disease several years ago now, we’ve designed a few items that you can buy in the shop to help support the Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s mission to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime,” he said in the clip while holding the socks.

The broadcast journalist then joked, “First of all, these socks are hot, and I’m not just saying that because I designed the socks myself. I’m wearing the socks.”

Craig added that men often don’t get opportunities to show off “pizzazz” when it comes to fashion.

“A little swag on your feet, alright?” he said before going on to gush about the “soft” pullover, which was made by Land’s End.

Craig publicly revealed in February 2017 that his brother, Lawrence, had been diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.

“You never want to hear of anyone getting a cancer diagnosis … it nearly knocked me off my feet,” he admitted.

It was discovered that Lawrence’s cancer had spread after doctors removed a baseball-sized tumor from his abdomen in 2016. He received chemotherapy treatments at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, but unfortunately, it was not enough to eliminate the cancer from his body. Lawrence died at 43 years old in December 2020.

“We lost our older brother this week. Lawrence Meadows was a husband (to Angela, his childhood sweetheart), father (to Addie, 11 and Lawson, 7) Baptist minister, entrepreneur and one of the best human beings you would’ve ever known,” Craig wrote on Instagram after his brother’s death. “Colon cancer robbed him and us of so much. He was diagnosed at 39. He died Wednesday at 43. He spent a fair amount of time over the past few years raising awareness about the disease. We’ll be keeping up that fight. We love you, bro.”