Thursday, February 11, 2010

Bobcats, Tornado join cancer fight

Press Release

he Bismarck Bobcats and the Texas Tornado are doing their part to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

The Bobcats play in their fourth annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink game on Friday night against the Owatonna Express, and, as part of the event, the ‘Cats will don special edition pink Relay For Life uniforms that will be auctioned off during and after their Central Division showdown with the proceeds going to benefit Relay For Life.

“Bobcat Hockey always jumps at the chance to give back to the community, and working with Relay for Life again this year is our pleasure.” said Bobcats owner Thom Brigl. “The fans are going to love this year’s pink jerseys and we’re thrilled to be able to help raise money for Relay For Life, one of the most recognizable charities nationwide.”

The team will be holding a silent auction throughout Friday’s game that will run through the second intermission of the Bobcats-Express contest where fans can bid on their favorite player’s pink sweater.

In addition, there will be a live auction following the game in the lobby of the VFW Sports Center where fans can bid on the jerseys of Jason Fabian, Casey Kleisinger, John Avino, Nick Jensen, Tim Serratore, Sean McKenzie, Ryan Faragher, Sam Rendle, Ryan Jacobson and Dominic Panetta.

“The jerseys are definitely cool-looking; all of us like them a lot,” said McKenzie, who has four goals in his last four games. “Knowing that we’re wearing them to help raise money for such a worthy cause is extra motivation for what’s already going to be a big game on Friday.”

The Tornado will present its second annual Pink in the Rink weekend from March 5-7 when its hosts the Springfield Jr. Blues for three games.

The Tornado will partner with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Frisco to dedicate the weekend to raising funds for cancer awareness.

At least 20 percent of proceeds from all ticket sales, pink merchandise and specialty pink jerseys benefit American Cancer Society Relay For Life Frisco.

The one-of-a-kind pink jerseys worn by the players throughout the weekend will feature the Tornado logo in pink. A silent auction for the jerseys will begin on Friday, March 5 and conclude at Sunday’s game on March 7. During the 2008-09 season, the Tornado’s pink game-worn jerseys alone raised almost $10,000.

“Relay For Life Frisco is extremely excited to partner with the Texas Tornado again this year,” said Rene Sinclair, chair of the Cancer Prevention Study 3, a study the American Cancer Society is conducting (the Relay for Life Frisco Group works to encourage people to participate in the study).

“The organization’s efforts to make this fundraiser a success for the American Cancer Society is outstanding and has always generated great revenue for us.”

The Tornado is also celebrating the life of Lisa Flowers, a longtime Tornado fan and host mom to many of the Tornado players throughout the years, who lost her battle with cancer in the fall of 2009. Each player will wear a commemorative floral patch with the initials “L.F.” in honor of Lisa Flowers.

The Pink in the Rink Weekend will mark the first annual Flowers Cup. The three-day battle will conclude on March 7 and the team who wins two out of the three games will receive the First Annual Flowers Cup in loving memory of Lisa Flowers.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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