Yes, it’s true that kids just got out of school a few days ago and the summer of ’18 is still very much an infant, but there are people in our midst who have already fast-forwarded their planning to fully three months from now in hopes of establishing a record-setting performance in the 3rd Annual Team Up Against Cancer event at the end of September.
In fact, they are encouraging athletes, fans, and community members in general to focus now on the plan to ”Team Up Against Cancer” in southwest Michigan. The annual event is a community fundraiser dedicated to help those fighting cancer, to providing information to increase awareness and to the prevention of cancer, all while celebrating cancer survivors.
Over the last two years, the all-volunteer TUAC committee has raised more than $22,000 through this one event in partnership with the St. Joseph High School football team.
One of the most important ways to support “Team Up Against Cancer” is by purchasing a t-shirt or sponsoring a football jersey. Supporting sponsors have been obtained to pay for the cost of the apparel so 100-percent of the proceeds go directly to cancer patients. The profit is split 50/50 with the Marie Yeager Cancer Center and Berrien County Cancer Service which support cancer survivors and prevention of “all” cancers.
T-shirts, available right now online, may be purchased at link below for as little as $10 each – small thru X-large – with larger sizes priced slightly higher. Your purchase of a t-shirt will also provide you with free admission any time you wear it into any or all St. Joe High School sporting events during the week of September 24 to 29, 2018. Here’s the link to order yours right now:
Additionally, special pink football jerseys will be pre-ordered and sponsored by friends and family members in honor of a loved one who has or had cancer. Additional event information as well as an order form may be found on Facebook at the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/TUAC.BerrienCountyMI
Each jersey sponsor may choose their jersey number and name on the back of the jersey. All requests will be honored on a first come, first served basis. The St. Joseph football team will wear the jerseys and pink socks on game night in support of the fundraiser. Following the game the jerseys will be presented to each sponsor by the football team.
The “Team Up Against Cancer” main event is slated for Friday, September 28th during the St. Joseph High School varsity football game at Dickinson Stadium as they play the Portage Central Mustangs. Gates will open that night at 5:00 pm with local vendors offering a variety of food both pre-game and during the game with 25-percent of the sales to benefit the area cancer support organizations.
The St. Joseph High School marching band and cheerleaders will pay tribute to those affected by cancer and salute survivors as they parade into the stadium during a pre-game ceremony. After the game, anyone wearing “Team Up Against Cancer” apparel is encouraged to enter the field to form a symbolic memory “ribbon” with the band to mark the event with a group photo.
Berrien County Cancer Service has been caring for local cancer patients in Southwest Michigan since 1948. They are newly located in the Marie Yeager Cancer Center Building, with a mission of providing compassionate in-home skilled nursing services and supportive resources for those affected by cancer or related illnesses. All services are provided free of charge and are made possible through a generous community and the United Way of Southwest Michigan. For more information regarding those services, you can call 269-429-3281 or visit their website at: www.bccancerservice.org.
The Marie Yeager Cancer Center, located at the Lakeland Health Park in St. Joseph, includes a highly qualified team of cancer specialists and state-of-the-art technology for cancer detection and treatment, in an environment designed to promote health and healing. Medical providers at the center care for more than 83-percent of cancer patients in Berrien County and provide oncology/hematology services, education, and resources. For more information you can visit online at www.lakelandhealth.org/MYCC.
