The Texas Rangers will host Children's Tumor Foundation Awareness Day at Globe Life Park, tomorrow, Sunday, May 29, when the club closes the series with Pittsburgh at 2:05 p.m.
Before the game, outfielder Ian Desmond will be joined by NF patients on the field as he presents a donation to NF research in the amount of $1000 for every run he scores in May. Through games of Friday, Desmond had scored 15 runs this month for a current total of $15,000.
Neurofibromatosis, or NF, is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. It affects 1 in 3,000 people of all populations; there is currently no treatment or cure. Children's Tumor Foundation Awareness Day with the Texas Rangers will draw NF families from around the state together for a fun, community-building day to help 'run NF out of the ballpark.'
"Several years ago I become friends with a young man living with neurofibromatosis, and since then I have been dedicated to raising awareness for this under-recognized genetic disorder," said Desmond. "The Children's Tumor Foundation is an exceptional organization, and I'm proud to partner with them and do my part to raise money for NF research."
Desmond will also be giving away tickets to Texas Rangers home games to NF patients and families throughout the season.
"Ian Desmond's unreserved commitment to our NF Heroes has led to numerous on-field experiences and great pride among the NF community when they see him sporting an NF bracelet or t-shirt," said Simon Vukelj, Vice President, Marketing and Communications for the Children's Tumor Foundation. "Ian is a strong advocate for the NF community, and we're excited and grateful to be working with him to raise awareness and funds for neurofibromatosis research."
Every year on May 17, the global NF community unites for World NF Awareness Day and the Foundation's Shine a Light on NF initiative. This year, owing to the efforts of the Children's Tumor Foundation and Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation, eight buildings and bridges across Texas glowed blue and green; these locations included Omni Hotel (Dallas), Bank of America Plaza (Dallas), Bank of America Tower (San Antonio), Children's Hospital of San Antonio, Robert B. Green Clinic at the University Health System (San Antonio), Houston City Hall, Outlets at Hillsboro, and the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge. Proclamations were also passed in Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, McAllen, San Antonio, and San Marcos declaring May as Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month.