Middlebrooks named 2014 Rally for the Jimmy Fund spokesplayer

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund announce that Boston Red Sox Third Baseman Will Middlebrooks is the 2014 Rally for the Jimmy Fund spokesplayer.

Joining the ranks of past spokesplayers including Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Daniel Bard, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Trot Nixon, Middlebrooks will be an ambassador for the Jimmy Fund to raise awareness and build support for cancer care and research for adults and children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

"We are thrilled that Will Middlebrooks continues to lend his support to Rally for the Jimmy Fund and to our adult and pediatric patients at Dana-Farber," said Suzanne Fountain, director of the Jimmy Fund. "Thanks to the support of Red Sox players like Will, the Red Sox organization, and the Rally for the Jimmy Fund teams of Red Sox Nation, we continue to make strides against cancer."

Now in its ninth year, Rally for the Jimmy Fund, sponsored by Fan Band, encourages Red Sox fans to start a Rally for the Jimmy Fund team by partnering with their workplaces or schools and encouraging co-workers, classmates, and friends to each contribute $5 or more to the Jimmy Fund. In exchange, they can "Dress for Sox-cess" by wearing Boston Red Sox gear to work or school on Friday, April 4, when the Sox take on the Milwaukie Brewers at Fenway Park for their home opener. The top fundraising workplace and school (K-12, college, or university) are each eligible for a visit from Middlebrooks, if located within two-hour travel distance from Boston.

There will be a third and fourth opportunity to win—all teams that raise $5,000 or more (workplace or school) will be entered to win a visit from Middlebrooks, and the team with the largest number of participants will receive a visit from the 2013 World Series trophy.

In eight years, Rally for the Jimmy Fund has raised more $3.5 million to support the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber. This year, the program hopes to raise $525,000.