Thanks to Dana Wright, manager of the 11- and 12-year-old East Side Chargers, for letting us know about how his kids are are getting ready for a big summer tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y. in a special way.
Instead of holding a fundraising drive for their trip, Wright says, the boys have decided to use the occasion to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer during the season.
Specifically, they’ve created a Kids Helping Kids Program called Hits-4-Childhood Cancer Research, along with the Rally Foundation.
That’s the Atlanta non-profit that is devoted to childhood cancer research and awareness with some connections to youth athletes in East Cobb who’ve passed away: Grace Bunke, a Walton swimmer, and Matt Hobby, a Pope football player.
The East Side Chargers began their fundraising drive on Feb. 1, but is continuing until July 1, when they’re getting ready to head to Cooperstown. Wright says they’ve raised about $2,500 thus far, and here’s how the pledging works, and all donations are tax-deductible: 
The program is very simple. . . . People can pledge a flat amount OR to help motivate for the boys on the field by pledging $ for EVERY TEAM HIT during the season.
We will play 30+ games and estimate 4-5 hits per game—bringing the total to 120-150 hits. We ring a cowbell at every game for every hit. . . This really motivates the kids and has generated new pledges.
We are also looking for other teams to join and set up their own program. . . . Rally will do all the work and make it turn key for any other coach or team families to participate.
More viral we can make this – the more money is raised to fight childhood cancer.
It has really motivated these young men on the field to work harder, given them a sense of pride knowing that they are helping other kids and giving them a better understanding of the disease.
Attached is a flyer for more details. For more, visit the Hits-4-Childhood Cancer page.
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