The Los Angeles Dodgers’ eighth annual ThinkCure! Weekend, which supports City of Hope’s efforts to find new treatments and cures for cancer and encourages Dodger fans to also support that work, begins tonight.
Fans can donate in honor of a family member or friend affected by cancer and to record those names on boards around Dodger Stadium.
First pitches before the game against the Cincinnati Reds will be thrown by City of Hope President and CEO Robert W. Stone, ThinkCure! board chairman Dr. Stephen J. Forman, the director of the Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at City of Hope, and other doctors from the Duarte-based facility.
Pediatric patients treated at City of Hope will take the field as honorary bat kids and officially start the game by declaring, “It’s time for Dodger baseball.”
ThinkCure! has provided $1.8 million in local cancer research grants, leveraging that investment into an additional $40 million in research support, a team official said.
Donations can be made by texting the word “CURE” to 50555 for a $10 donation or on the ThinkCure! website, thinkcure.org.
Tonight’s game is also the 10th annual Stitch N’ Pitch Night at Dodger Stadium, with participants knitting, crocheting embroidering, cross-stitching and needlepointing while watching the game.
Matt Luke, an outfielder-first baseman with the Dodgers in 1998, will sign autographs in the left field pavilion plaza from 5-7 p.m.
DJ Adam will provide musical entertainment in the right field plaza while a balloon artist will entertain in the left field plaza, both from 5-7 p.m.
A fireworks show set to songs chosen by Dodger players with a playlist put together by outfielder Scott Van Slyke will follow the game. Fans will be invited onto to the field to watch the show, which will take place before 11 p.m. and is subject to cancellation if the game lasts too long.
Auto gates will open at 4:40 p.m. and stadium gates at 5:10 p.m. for the 7:10 p.m. game. Pregame ceremonies will begin at 6:50 p.m.
