Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association & Hopewell Youth Association Hosting Tournament to Benefit Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer

Goal is to make a difference for kids diagnosed with childhood cancer.

Alpharetta, GA, March 26, 2013:  From June 6-9, 2013, Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association (AYBA) & Hopewell Youth Association will be hosting a tournament to benefit Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer.  The goal is to make a difference for all kids in our community who have been diagnosed with childhood cancer, including those we may know personally. 

Childhood cancer has hit close to home for those at AYBA. In May of 2010, a player at AYBA named BJ was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a very aggressive form of childhood cancer.  His coaches had noticed he wasn’t his normal energetic self, and after much testing, the diagnosis was given.  His family’s life, as they knew it, stopped. 

Everyone at AYBA rallied around BJ. They were already very familiar with the prevalence of childhood cancer through their involvement with Curing Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit organization whose mission is to find cures for pediatric cancers in our lifetime. 

Curing Kids’ Cancer raises money to fund the most promising pediatric cancer research.  One of the ways they do it is through the Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer (CCKC) program.  Youth sports teams donate to CCKC in honor of their coaches at the end of the season in lieu of a traditional gift.  The coach receives a great Curing Kids’ Cancer gift (t-shirt, hat, or whistle) along with a certificate letting the coach know that the team has donated to us in the coach’s honor. This money then goes to fund cutting edge pediatric cancer research.  And the kids on the team learn about giving back.  It is a win/win for everyone! 

BJ underwent 7 months of very harsh treatments, and on December 18, 2010, BJ had his last treatment, and has been in remission ever since! 

Not all children are as fortunate as BJ.  Which is why we need your help!  Tournament proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer.  For more information about their mission, please go to http://www.curingkidscancer.org .  Donations can also be made at this site.

• When:  June 6-9, 2013
• Ages: 6U, 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U
• Classifications:  All Star and AA/AAA.  All-Star and AA/AAA will not be combined.
• See who is already confirmed to attend: www.alpharettasports.com/tgba
• Where: The tournament will be played at Wills Park and Webb Bridge Park in Alpharetta and Bell Memorial Park in Milton.

Info:

• Format: 2 pool games w/ single elimination bracket (3 game minimum)
• Tournament includes homerun derby contest hosted by Grand Sam Sports Center
• Trophies: 1st and 2nd place team
• Each team to provide two balls per game.
• Team Entry Fee: $350 plus $75 gate fee

Contacts:

• Mike Olmsted - 770-329-8093 or molmsted@comcast.net
• Andy Faw – 678-984-5033 or andy.faw@rrd.com

Follow AYBA on facebook and twitter for additional information on this special baseball tournament:

-     http://www.facebook.com/AlpharettaYouthBaseballAssociation

-http://twitter.com/alphabaseball

About Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association

The merger of Wills Park Youth Baseball and Webb Bridge Youth Baseball into the Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association (AYBA) was made official by Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas on December 22, 2011. 

AYBA is a recreation and travel league organization, serving the Alpharetta and Greater North Fulton County area.  The league offers recreational programs for 4-18 year old age groups and travel teams for 9-14 year olds.

AYBA is a non-profit corporation registered with the office of the Secretary of State of Georgia.  The Association is operated by volunteer members serving as an elected Board of Directors, chaired by a Commissioner, assisted by a Deputy-Commissioner, Vice-Commissioners and Departmental Representatives.  AYBA Recreation Leagues are sanctioned by Dizzy Dean Baseball.  Travel Teams are affiliated with various baseball organizations (NWBA, USSSA, CABA, AAU, AABC, etc.) at the discretion of the travel team's manager.

About Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer

Curing Kids’ Cancer is a charity inspired by the life of Killian Owen who – despite losing his battle with leukemia at age nine – helped pioneer revolutionary new childhood cancer treatments. 

The mission of Curing Kids’ Cancer is to raise funds for cutting edge pediatric cancer research through a variety of unique fundraising events and programs like Coaches Curing Kids’ Cancer.  The charity provides funding to get life saving new drugs out of the lab and into treatment so the children have access to them.

Join Our Team - Curing Kids’ Cancer’s goal is to turn this killer disease into a curable one in our lifetime...which doctors say is possible!

www.curingkidscancer.org