Help the Vols Pitch a Shutout Against Blood Cancers!

Last year, through an inspiring effort spearheaded by our student-athletes, the baseball team surpassed its $5,000 goal and raised a total of $6,125 for the prevention of blood cancers. Thanks to the tremendous support of the Vol Nation, every penny of that total went directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Some of you may already be aware of the many ways in which members of the Tennessee Baseball Family have been affected by blood cancers. My oldest brother, John Raleigh III , lost his battle with Hodgkin’s disease at age 19. He had left home to play college baseball at Central Florida shortly before he was diagnosed. And last season, one of our players, outfielder Jarred Frazier, lost his mother to osteosarcoma. I, my staff and Jarred's Tennessee teammates will always remember Lynn Frazier . After her passing, our players wrote the letters "MF" on their caps, in memory of "Mama Frazier."

This fall, our team has set a more ambitious goal of $10,000. And my wife Stephanie and I are personally pledging $1,000 to jumpstart our team's fundraising efforts. In addition to participating in the Light The Night Walk at Knoxville's Volunteer Landing on Oct. 2, our team also is going to raise money for the cause at our Orange & White World Series games this fall. We truly hope we can count on your generosity to help us reach our goal!

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds lifesaving cancer research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and many other types of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, that have helped patients live better, longer lives. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving the quality of life.

• • A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• • A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
• • A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• • A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

Please make a donation to support our participation in the Light The Night Walk at Knoxville's Volunteer Landing on Oct. 2 and help save lives. Be sure to check our Web site frequently to see our progress. Thanks for your support, and go Vols!

Todd Raleigh

Head Baseball Coach

University of Tennessee

(865) 974-2057