Minor League Baseball teams are joining forces this summer to honor children with brain tumors, survivors, and their families through a series of Vs. Cancer Starry Night games that the Charlotte Knights, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, kicked off on Saturday, June 8th at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Each Vs. Cancer Starry Night game, benefiting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, will include an inspiring lantern ceremony that pays tribute to children currently living with brain tumors, survivors, children who have passed away, and their families. This beautiful display not only honors the young lives touched by this illness but also unites the community in support and solidarity.
Longtime Vs. Cancer partner and Kannapolis Cannon Ballers General Manager Matt Millward organized the first Vs. Cancer Starry Night game in 2020. When the Cannon Ballers won MiLB’s 2023 Golden Bobblehead Award for Best Community Event, other teams signed on to host Vs. Cancer Starry Night games this season, with more set to join. The following schedule of games will be updated as teams continue to confirm their dates:
While each team’s Vs. Cancer Starry Night game will feature unique pre- and post-game activities, including fireworks, player meet-and-greets, and family funzones, everyone who attends a game will have an opportunity to purchase a lantern for the post-game ceremony and donate in support of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s mission.
The money teams raise will fund vital research to discover better treatments and, ultimately, cures for pediatric brain tumors, as well as resources and support to help families in fans’ local communities and beyond.
Check the schedule above to see if a MiLB team near you is hosting a Vs. Cancer Starry Night game and to purchase tickets. Families affected by pediatric brain tumors who are interested in attending should email [email protected] for more information.
If you’re interested in hosting your own Vs. Cancer event or getting involved with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in another way, fill out the form below:
The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 17 to improve children’s access to essential health care, while eliminating administrative burdens for providers and states.
“This report lays groundwork to improve the experience of people living with this disease,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, one of the country’s leading neurosurgeons, and a member of PBTF’s Board of Directors. “I believe it shines a much-needed spotlight on the wide-ranging and extensive challenges that this type of tumor causes for patients and their families, and I am hopeful that this moment is a significant milestone for this community.”
