Oakland A's Ninth Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day Set for Saturday, Sept. 15

Proceeds benefit American Cancer Society and Northern California Cancer Center

09/11/2007, OAKLAND -- The Oakland Athletics will host the Ninth Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Saturday, Sept. 15 as the A's take on the Texas Rangers at McAfee Coliseum.

A's Breast Cancer Awareness Day, presented by John Muir Health, is a day long celebration of survivorship honoring those who have courageously battled breast cancer and raises funds to support research, education, advocacy and free services for cancer patients and their families throughout the Bay Area.

Pre-game ceremonies begin at noon with over 300 Bay Area breast cancer survivors forming a symbolic human ribbon on the field and the release of white doves as a symbol of hope. In addition, A's pitcher Joe Blanton's mother Carolyn and aunt Dottie, who are both breast cancer survivors, will simultaneously throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

A pre-game reception for the survivors, beginning at 10:15 am, will take place in the East Side Club. Author of Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy and breast cancer survivor, Geralyn Lucas, will speak at a pre-game luncheon with the survivors.

Fans may purchase a special A's Breast Cancer Awareness Day package through Sept. 14. For just $30, fans will receive a special Breast Cancer Awareness pin and pink A's cap along with a Plaza Reserve ticket for the game against the Tigers ($40 value).

Fans can also purchase a pink A's hat ($20) and a pin ($10) for only $25 or a raffle tickets for a quilt autographed by members of the 2007 A's team and coaching staff will be sold for $5 each. A's Breast Cancer Awareness Day fundraising efforts will take place behind section 120 of A's home games, over the phone at 510-638-4900 ext. 2329 or online at oaklandathletics.com.

Last year's A's Breast Cancer Awareness Day raised over $100,000 and over the past eight years, the event has raised over $775,000 for breast cancer education and research. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Northern California Cancer Center.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and it is estimated that 21,200 women in California will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. However, when detected early up through stage I, the five-year relative survival rate is over 95%. Routine mammography screening for breast cancer has been shown to lower the chance of dying from breast cancer by 35% in women over the age of 50, and by 25-35% for women between the ages of 40 and 50 years old.

In addition, as a part of "A Gift of Faith" grant, the A's will donate $5,000 annually to a local charity in memory of longtime KTVU Channel 2 reporter, the late Faith Fancher. This year's grant will be presented to the To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit volunteer organization that raises and grants funds to San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit organizations that help those who are dealing with breast cancer or who have breast health concerns.

Additional sponsors of this year's A's Breast Cancer Awareness Day include Chevron, Contra Costa Times, Comcast, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Ross Dress For Less and SuperCuts.

Tickets for all A's home games can be purchased at all usual ticket outlets, including McAfee Coliseum Box Office, on-line at oaklandathletics.com and all Tickets.com outlets or over the phone by calling (877) 493-BALL. Individual game tickets for the 2007 season are priced at $44 (MVP), $40 (Plaza Club), $32 (Field Level), $30 (Field Level Outfield), $30 (Plaza Infield), $22 (Plaza Level), $16 (Plaza Outfield), $12 (Bleachers), and $9 (Plaza Reserved).

Source: MLB

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •