OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland A’s will host their annual ALS Awareness Night at the Coliseum on Thursday, Aug. 22, during the 6:37 p.m. game versus the New York Yankees. Funds raised from that night’s game will benefit ALS Cure’s collaborative project with The ALS Association Golden West Chapter and the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). The three nonprofits are coming together with an aim to standardize sample collection to ensure data consistency from appointment to appointment.
Fans can purchase a special event ticket for ALS Awareness Night at athletics.com/als. Fans can also contribute directly by making a donation at gofundme.com/piscottyals2019. A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty will host an autograph session at the Community Corner behind Section 218 prior to the game to raise funds for the project.
“The Major League Baseball family has felt the effects of ALS, and we are committed to raising awareness and vital funds for ALS research,” said Catherine Aker, Oakland A’s vice president of Communications and Community. “This day is in honor of Gretchen Piscotty, Catfish Hunter, Corey Reich, Lou Gehrig, and all of the members of our baseball family who have been impacted by this disease.”
Gretchen Piscotty, mother of Stephen Piscotty, passed away on May 6, 2018, following a yearlong battle with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Stephen’s father, Mike, started ALS Cure in Gretchen’s honor. ALS Cure works to raise funds and execute research to find a cure for ALS.
Piscotty started his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals. In addition to ALS Awareness Day on Thursday, Aug. 22, proceeds from select items at the Oakland A’s Community Fund’s silent auction during the Sunday, Aug. 4 game versus the Cardinals will go toward ALS research.
Tickets for ALS Awareness Night are available at athletics.com/als.