PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania baseball team has teamed up with Vs. Cancer this season to bring awareness to pediatric cancer and raise funds to support the cause. The fundraiser is lasting throughout the season, but the team will celebrate their efforts on March 25 after their home game against Brown University. Game time – 1:00PM.

In partnership with Vs. Cancer, the Quakers have selected the pediatric oncology unit at The Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania to receive 50 percent of the funds they raise, while the other 50 percent will be used to fund ground-breaking brain tumor research efforts through the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Penn Baseball has already raised over $29,000 thanks to the generous support of their family and friends.

"The partnership between Vs. Cancer and Penn Baseball goes beyond the mutual benefit of two phenomenal organizations," said John Yurkow, who enters his fifth season as head coach for the Quakers. "Our partnership is about connecting with the community, it's about saving lives. Cancer has affected all of us one way or another, whether it be a friend, family member or colleague, and working with Vs. Cancer to help find a cure just clicked with the program."

Beyond simple fundraising, though, the baseball athletes took action in the weeks prior to their road opener (February 23 at Northwestern State, gathering at a local barber shop to collectively shave their heads. The gesture was aimed at raising awareness and adding extra funding to the Vs. Cancer Foundation.

Robin Boettcher, Chief Executive officer of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, understands how vital these athletes are to our mission. "We applaud the efforts and generous spirit of the Penn Baseball team! They are helping us provide life-changing support for local children fighting cancer and fund ground-breaking research into a cure. With the support of this incredible team, we're fighting for futures for these kids."

Vs. Cancer was founded in 2012 by Chase Jones, a former collegiate baseball player at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jones was diagnosed with a brain tumor as a freshman at U.N.C. The support of his teammates during treatment was his largest source of strength during recovery. Vs. Cancer now works with athletic teams across the country who have joined the fight against childhood cancer. With the help of athletes, teams, and communities nationwide, Vs. Cancer has raised over $4.2 million dollars since their inception and is now a signature fundraising campaign for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.  

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