BENNINGTON, Vt. — There is still time left to support the Southern Vermont College baseball team’s fight to end childhood cancer, an effort set to wrap up at the end of May.
SVC Baseball is asking for donations to help the Vs. Cancer Foundation, the second year in which the squad has teamed up with the organization; this is also the third year in-a-row that the Mountaineers have worked to provide funding for the fight against childhood cancer, shaving their heads in further support of all those impacted by the disease.
While the past two years saw the players take the clippers to their hair at the end of the fundraising effort, the SVC players conducted the head shaving in Florida earlier in the season during their annual spring trip.
HEAD SHAVING PHOTO GALLERY
"The fight against childhood cancer is always on-going,” commented third-year head coach Dave Gage who initiated SVC Baseball’s participation in the fight back in 2013. “I'm proud of our guys for raising awareness and financial support.”
Over the last two seasons, Southern Vermont has raised over $8,000 for the cause; the 2014 squad helped pull in $1,890 that impacted an estimated 75 kids.
“In our third year, we have now raised $9,900 towards the fight,” continued Gage. “It is our hope we can get to $10,000 raised over the next few weeks."
People looking to make donations can log on to the team's Vs. Cancer donation page. To donate directly or for more information, please contact Coach Gage at 802-447-4662 or dgage@svc.edu.
The Vs. Cancer Foundation works with teams all across the United States, from Little League up through MiLB. Because of those teams, Vs. Cancer has been able to give over $1.6 million since its inception two years ago. Projects that the Foundation provides include art therapy, music therapy, and video games in children’s hospital rooms. Every gift to Vs. Cancer helps make life better for kids fighting cancer today and funds research to help kids diagnosed tomorrow.
Chase Jones, founder and CEO of the Vs. Cancer Foundation, was treated for a stage IV brain tumor as a college freshman and baseball player at UNC Chapel Hill. The support of his teammates during treatment is what motivated him to start the Vs. Cancer Foundation. ‘‘The commitment to helping others is what makes Coach Gage and the Southern Vermont program special,” commented Jones. “Because of them, we will be able to help future kids through research and finding a cure, as well as make treatment easier for kids currently fighting cancer in the Northeast. Having personally been on the receiving end of these funds while being treated, I can attest to what these guys are making happen: helping the next child beat cancer.’’