On Tuesday, June 16, The Copperheads hosted the Turn-It-Gold Game, an annual event that aims to raise money for a local child battling cancer.
The Turn-It-Gold Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to bring awareness and increase research for childhood cancer. The foundation strives to amplify voices and supports families affected by cancer through fundraising and other community efforts.
Copperheads Director of Community Engagement, Braeden Bard, helped organize this event for the and encouraged fans and staff members to pledge their support for the cause.
“All of our proceeds go directly towards the family or childhood cancer research, but at the end of the day it’s about bringing everyone together to support this family and giving them an experience they won’t forget,” Bard said.
This year’s child is five-year-old Gibson (Gibbs). When he was four months old, he was diagnosed with an optic pathway tumor which caused him to lose most of his vision. The tumor continued to slowly grow, but was inoperable due to the location and size. Any proceeds will help Gibbs and his family get through other forms of treatment.
The Copperheads hosted a Hit-A-Thon at Bob Wren Stadium Monday, June 15. Players and staff members were able to collect pledges for assigned players. Each Copperheads player got 10 swings, and for each hit a player got out of those 10 tries, that pledge amount was donated to the family.
The Copperheads were able to present a $8,294 check to Gibbs and his family before the game and Gibbs’ older sister, Ivy, threw out the first pitch of the game.
Fans were encouraged to wear yellow or gold to the game and participate in the player jersey raffles and in-game promos to support Gibbs, his family and the Turn-It-Gold Foundation. Throughout the game, an additional $2,636 was raised for the Turn-It-Gold Foundation, bringing the grand total raised to $10,930.
“It shows how strong of a community Athens truly is that we are able to rally and join this cause,” Bard said, “It feels good to do good things [for the community].”
The Copperheads are proud to have participated yet another year in a special tradition that aims to make a difference for local families, and raise money and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer. To continue to support the fight against childhood cancer and the Turn-It-Gold Foundation, visit their website for more information. Go Copperheads!
Photo courtesy: Ally Hall
#communityownedstudentoperated
The Southern Ohio Copperheads is a community-owned, student-operated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Established in 2002, the Copperheads is a summer collegiate wooden bat baseball team that competes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and plays its home games at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens, OH. The Copperheads organization strives to provide the most affordable means of family-friendly outdoor entertainment in southeast Ohio. Tickets to the Copperheads games are $5 and children under the age of 5 receive free admission. Staffed by Ohio University students, the Southern Ohio Copperheads also serve as a “learning lab” for student interns looking to work in the sport and entertainment industry.
