Walsh Jesuit High School’s Showcase for the Cure — which has drawn top baseball prospects and scouts from around the region since 2006 — raised a record $37,000 this year for the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute and cancer research.
This year’s event honors Gene Blackwell, who is the father of two-time Walsh Jesuit baseball state champion David Blackwell and is battling multiple myeloma.
A grateful Chris Kaczmar, Walsh’s baseball coach, said this year’s showcase “drew 113 top-level players from Ohio and over 50 college and professional scouts.”
“Mark Shapiro, Cleveland Indians president, opened the event with a poignant address to the crowd, which included 160 grade-school-level boys who had just completed a successful three-day baseball camp,” Kaczmar said.
Kaczmar and event chairs Jeff and Pam Frye asked participants to donate to cancer research rather than pay a fee. Vendors also sold a plethora of products, with proceeds also going to the charity.
Kaczmar is especially thankful to the scouting community for the event’s success: “We set new records this year, and we are all collectively truly grateful.”
Comunale/Aeros event
The Stephen A. Comunale Jr. Family Cancer Foundation is teaming up in creative ways with the Akron Aeros to raise awareness and funds to assist local folks going through treatment for cancer, providing them with financial assistance and free programs.
“On Saturday, July 14, the Akron Aeros will be celebrating Italian Heritage Night and finishing the night off with fireworks. At this game, the Aeros will be wearing special jerseys, which will be auctioned off during the game, through the seventh inning,” writes Marisa Hoffman,associate director of the foundation.
The game, which pits the Aeros against the Altoona Curve, gets under way at 7:05 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the local nonprofit and its programs.
Hoffman is encouraging Aeros fans to show up and place bids. For tickets, call the Aeros at 330-253-5151 or contact ticketsales@akronaeros.com.
The foundation also will host a special fireworks night Aug. 18 at the ballpark. To get tickets at $6, contact the foundation office directly at 330-835-5985 or marisa@ stephencomunale.org.
Again, all proceeds will help local folks battling cancer.
Dough-Nation
Hats off to the Akron and Canton area Panera Bread bakery/cafes, which recently tapped Akron Children’s Hospital as the recipient of their year-long Operation Dough-Nation program, which is expected to raise $18,000.
“The Operation Dough-Nation campaign is a nationwide effort for Panera Bread, where the bakery/cafes have community bread boxes located near each register,” said Anne C. Merchant, spokeswoman for the hospital’s foundation. All cash donations collected in the bakery/cafes in the Akron and Canton areas will go to the hospital.
“At Panera Bread, we strongly believe in giving back to the communities in which we reside,” said Sam Covelli, owner/operator of Covelli Enterprises.
The program takes place at these 10 area Panera locations: Akron, Belden Village, Chapel Hill, Fairlawn, Hudson, Massillon, Medina, Montrose, North Canton and Stow.
Volunteer training
Because domestic violence and rape affect not just women but families and communities, too, the Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit counties will host training sessions for its volunteers from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 6-8 and Aug. 13-15.
“We offer all kinds of volunteer opportunities, such as helping in a shelter, working outreach events, answering hot-line calls, hospital and court advocacy, and many more great opportunities,” shelter spokeswomen Brittany Paliswat wrote.
“If you are a man or woman over the age of 18 and want to make an instant difference, visit one of our websites at www.scmcbws.org or www.rccmsc.org to learn more.”
Benefit dinner
The Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 449 recently hosted a spaghetti dinner to assist 16-year-old Kaleigh Herring, who has an inoperable cyst in the pineal gland of her brain, and hemiplegic migraines that can cause stroke-like symptoms.
Kaleigh, daughter of Brent and Judy Herring, was diagnosed with the cyst when she was 7 and the hemiplegic migraines in April.
To donate, please call 330-524-0560 or email celebratekaleigh@gmail.com.
Walk and Roll
The Cleveland-area Cure and Awareness of Pulmonary Hypertension Support (CAPHS) is hosting Let’s Walk and Roll for a Cure at 11 a.m. Aug. 4 at Sand Run Metro Park (Wadsworth Shelter), 1400 Sand Run Road, Akron.
“Join us for a six-minute walk or longer,” the invitation from Akron’s Zahi Kakish read. “We may be able to walk by ourselves, or we may need a walker, a wheelchair or a scooter. Or we may have someone walk for us. Whichever way, we will be there.
“Help us raise awareness and funds for research about this disease. Symptoms of PH may include the following: shortness of breath with minimal exertion, chest pain, unusual fatigue, a dry cough, edema (water retention), heart palpitations, fainting and dizzy spells.”
Lots of activities are planned: a casual outdoor social, games, door prizes and a goody bag with a shirt, hat and surprises. Register early so your shirt size is available. Food, entertainment and a PH specialist will be available.
Registration fee is $25, or $40 for a family of up to five. Register at www. firstgiving.com/PHassociation/ WalkandRoll; click on Get Started, then CAPHS 6th annual Walk and Roll. Or mail checks (payable to Pulmonary Hypertension Association/CAPHS) to Merle Reeseman at 330 College Ave., Grove City, PA 16127.
Questions, please call Zahi Kakish at 330-329-6163 or Reeseman at 724-458-5573.
Walk for water
I Give H2OPE is sponsoring its inaugural I Walk for H2OPE 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 8, at the McKinley National Monument in Canton.
I Give H2OPE is a nonprofit with a global campaign to resolve the world’s water crisis. Through a partnership with Seeds of Hope International Partnerships (SHIP), it seeks to bring clean water and education to those living in poverty in Zambia, Africa.
It is inviting local families, students, friends and businesses to attend the walk, organize a team and secure pledges to help reach the goal of providing 1,000 families in Zambia with clean water.
The $20 registration fee includes a T-shirt, wristband, lunch and the opportunity to carry water like the women and children in Zambia must do every day of their lives.
For information about how to register, volunteer or donate, please visit www. igiveh2ope.org/walk
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
