News
McCann, Jones team up against cancer
Pair will captain squads in charity celebrity softball gameBy Mark Bowman / MLB.com
11/10/09 3:18 PM EST
ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones and Brian McCann are going to take different sides as they team up to team up to raise funds in the battle against childhood cancer.Jones and McCann will captain the opposing teams that have been assembled to participate in the inaugural Brian McCann Rally Celebrity Softball Game, which will be held at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday at Georgia Tech's Russ Chandler Stadium.
This event, which is being hosted by Jones, McCann and their representatives at Jet Sports Management, will provide fans a glimpse at the past, present and future of the Braves. Former pitching coach Leo Mazzone and Andruw Jones are scheduled to participate in this event, along with current Braves Tim Hudson and Kelly Johnson.
In addition, Cody Johnson, who was selected by the Braves in the first round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, will be on display to show some of the raw power that helped him hit 32 homers for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach this past summer.
All proceeds for the event will benefit the Rally Foundation, which aims to find better treatments and cures for childhood cancer. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.
In its first three years of existence, the Rally Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in research grants while supporting 39 projects in 22 hospitals nationwide. The Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University's uninsured young adult childhood cancer survivor's clinic have both received financial aid from this non-profit organization.
Former Braves great Tom Glavine has been involved with this charity and McCann with his wife, Ashley, have proudly taken advantage of the opportunity to also serve as spokespeople for the Foundation.
"The children Ashley and I have met through our work with the Rally Foundation have gone through so much, and yet they have the most amazing courage and strength," said McCann. "We feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to meet such inspiring children and support such an incredible cause."
Other celebrities scheduled to participate include former NBA player Drew Barry, former Georgia star David Pollack, former NFL coach Sam Wyche, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and local radio sports-talk personality Chris Dimino.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. and a home run derby will begin an hour later.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
