Special feature to BradleyBraves.com by Patrick Morey
PEORIA, Ill. - The Bradley Braves Baseball team is off to a strong start on the season, but the Braves can be equally proud for their efforts off the field raising money for the Vs. Cancer Foundation to help children with cancer.
Chase Jones, who was diagnosed with brain cancer during his playing career at the University of North Carolina, founded Vs. Cancer. The foundation has created a nationwide challenge among college baseball programs to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research and the Braves currently rank seventh in their fundraising efforts.
“Coach (Elvis) Dominguez approached me about spearheading the fundraiser and I contacted Chase Jones and we just kind of ran with it from there,” said Steve Adkins, a redshirt junior pitcher for the Braves. “The guys really responded to it and we have had a great response so far.”
The team is hoping to raise $10,000 by season's end and is already at $7,615. The biggest plus for the local community is that donating to this foundation will not only help fund national childhood cancer research but half of the money will come back to the Children's Hospital of Illinois right here in Peoria.
“It really is a fantastic foundation, because half of the money helps kids right here,” said Adkins. “This will give them toys, playrooms and game systems, just things that will let them feel like kids again for a little while.”
The team and coaches also will be shaving their heads to raise awareness for this fundraiser on Saturday after their 2 p.m. game against Missouri Valley Conference rival Southern Illinois at Dozer Park. Great Clips will be donating its services to cut the players' hair immediately following the game.
Coach Dominguez is excited by his team's commitment to the cause and wants to stress just how great his players are in stepping up to the plate with this fundraiser.
“If we can use our name to get it out there that would be great,” said Dominguez. “The team has really bought into the concept. We are all so proud of them because they have such a passion for helping others in need.”
Donations may be made at team.vs-cancer.org/Bradley. Anyone can make a donation to the team or players individually, which still will apply to the team total. This is an important cause and any amount is helping to beat childhood cancer.
Come out and support the Braves this weekend for their 3-game series against Southern Illinois at Dozer Park. Game times are 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
