April 12, 2006
Rally Against CancerSM wins big for the Jimmy Fund!
Red Sox Nation raises more than $205,000 to strike out cancer
Boston Red Sox fans stepped up to the plate to support the Jimmy Fund's Rally Against Cancer, which coincided with the Red Sox 2006 home opener at Fenway Park.
More than 360 businesses and schools throughout Red Sox Nation participated, raising more than $205,000 to strike out cancer. Employees, students and staff each contributed at least $5 to the Jimmy Fund to support cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In return, team members were able to wear their Red Sox gear to work or school. Not only were teams supporting the life saving mission of the Jimmy Fund, they were also vying for an office visit from Red Sox right-fielder Trot Nixon.
Bidding went until 11 p.m. on April 11, and it was a pennant-like race to the very end. Team Sturbridge and Team Furnace Brook Middle School were tied at the bottom of the ninth. But in the last hour Team Sturbridge pulled ahead and won the game by raising $12,373. The entire town got together to support the Jimmy Fund. Trot Nixon will visit the town at a date to be determined.
Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield came in a close second with $12,083.
Other top contenders were Upromise, National Grid, Nixon Peabody LLP, Babson Capital Management, Sun Life Financial, DRC, SBLI and CitiStreet.
The first Rally Against Cancer surpassed all expectations, so the Jimmy Fund plans to make it an annual event.
Barbara Barry, team coach of Team Sturbridge says, "It was a great experience. I didn't think we would get past $10,000, but everyone in our town rallied around the whole event for the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund, because it is such an important cause."
The Jimmy Fund has been an official charity of the Boston Red Sox since 1953.
The Jimmy Fund teamed up with Modell's Sporting Goods and 93.7 Mike FM for the first Rally Against Cancer. A special thank you to both for helping to get Red Sox Nation to strike out cancer.
