West Michigan Whitecaps Host Purple Game to Fight Cancer
Baseball game to honor Purple Community participants, raise funds for research at Van Andel Institute
Grand Rapids, Mich. (July 27, 2012) – The West Michigan Whitecaps will host their 3rd annual Purple Community—100% Hope Purple Game on Wednesday, August 1 at Fifth Third Ballpark. The Purple Game will honor teams and communities that have supported Van Andel Institute (VAI) by hosting their own Purple Community events. Whitecaps fans will also have the opportunity to support VAI through a variety of events being held throughout the game.
The evening’s proceeds will the support life-saving cancer and disease research conducted at VAI. With the purchase of a ticket, which can be purchased online at www.whitecapsbaseball.com or at the gates, fans will watch the Whitecaps face off against the Lake County Captains. They will also enjoy various purple perks throughout the evening, including:
500 Purple Community T-shirts for fans;
Purple foam fingers given away to first 2,500 kids;
A sea of purple with purple giveaways, purple T-shirt frenzy, and purple food items;
Flounder from Thunder 94.5 FM; and The Famous Chicken;
Post-game fireworks.
Additionally, two Purple Community supporters, who happen to be fighting their own cancer battles, will be throwing out the first pitch. Two-year-old Mason is battling Neuroblastoma, and 13-year-old Alyssa is finishing the final round of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with a form of bone cancer known as Ewing’s Sarcoma. Both children have great spirits, and appreciate the support of the Purple Community program.
VAI’s Purple Community is a grassroots program that gives individuals the opportunity to make it personal by creating their own fundraising events. Events range from lemonade stands to massive purple football games to fashion shows. One hundred percent of the funds raised through the Purple Game will go directly to laboratory research at VAI. For more information about Purple Community—100% Hope, or to organize your own event visit: www.purplecommunity.org.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2012
Time: GATES OPEN AT 6:00P.M.; GAME BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
Location: FIFTH THIRD BALLPARK - 4500 West River Drive, Comstock Park, MI 49321
Map and Directions: http://www.fifththirdballpark.com/contact/directions.php
###
About Van Andel Institute
Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996, Van Andel Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to preserving, enhancing and expanding the frontiers of medical science, and to achieving excellence in education by probing fundamental issues of education and the learning process. This is accomplished through the work of over 200 researchers in more than 22 on-site laboratories and in collaborative partnerships that span the globe.