Thanks to Dana Wright, coach of the East Side Chargers 12 and Under baseball team, for letting us know about their special morning Wednesday meeting Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker (at right in photo above, wearing checked shirt) for their fundraising efforts for childhood cancer research.
The fundraising program, “Hits 4 Cancer,” kicked off in February (previous ECN post here), and it continues until July 1, as the team gets ready for a big tournament June 8-24 in Cooperstown, N.Y., near the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Before the event, Wright (pictured at left, in the back row) explained how his team undertook the novel fundraising effort to include donations tied to its performances on the field:
“Our team chose not to raise money for our trip, but to instead create a great cause event that would help teach these young men the importance of giving back.
“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.”
Thus far, Wright tells us, the Chargers have raised $5,000 for the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer.
Here’s more from Wright about how the Chargers are continuing their effort, and inviting the public to take part, and how you can help, with links at the bottom of the post:
“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.
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
