April 21st ALS Game Info from Ryan Combs!
Good afternoon:
I would like to confirm there will be a another Chris Combs Baseball Classic at NC State’s Doak Field this year. The tournament is on the same day as the Triangle Walk for the ALS Association. Chris once again has Team Chris Combs walking that morning, and I know the players walked last year but our family was in Boston for the ALS game. I know my brother would be thrilled to have Broughton walk with him this year. http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/NorthCarolina?team_id=365581&pg=team&fr_id=12983
The schedule for the day is about 90% complete, and here is what it looks like:
Current Schedule
1:00pm Broughton vs. Southern Lee
3:15pm Wake Forest vs. Wakefield
5:30pm Millbrook vs. Sanderson
Johnson-Lambe has once again agreed to donate a set of game jerseys to the team that raises the most money. Last year Broughton and Millbrook were incredible and raised over 30,000 combined.
What I envision this year is to not have the teams themselves feel pressure to raise the money, but for the programs to ask the parents to help think of companies and business owners in your area who might be willing to do a sponsorship for the tournament. I am selling sponsorships for $500 and $1,000 right now. The $1,000 sponsors will get their logo on the scoreboard during the tournament and both sponsor levels will be announced during each game. (The ALS Association is creating the websites for each school to monitor their fundraising. We will share those links once they are live.)
100% of the money raised goes to the ALS Association of NC. The association uses the money to fund programs to support victims and their families of ALS. It costs hundred of thousands of dollars to care for a family member who has ALS.
The most important thing that can happen through this tournament is for everyone involved, especially the players, to have a better understanding of what a cruel disease ALS is, and that currently there is no cure. Because ALS only effects such a small percentage of the US population, the Federal government does not invest into research for ALS like they do HIV and Cancer. Since my brothers diagnosis 2 years ago, he has raised over 2 million dollars for Project ALS out of New York. Project ALS has raised close to 100 million for research to find a cure.
Just as womens’ basketball has taken breast cancer head on, baseball needs to fight to find a cure for ALS. Lou Gehrig, NC Native and MLB Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter, former Western Carolina and ECU baseball coach Keith LeClair, and the creator of the Ice Bucket Challenge, Boston College baseball player Pete Frates all were victims of ALS. Pete Frates continues to fight on, and the Boston College program is constantly carrying the torch.
Facts
15 new cases a day
6,000 people diagnosed each year
20,000 people living with ALS in the US
2-5 year life expectancy
ALS takes away the patients ability to walk, write, dress themselves, speak, and swallow
60% of ALS patients are male
90% of ALS patients are Caucasian
Thanks again for being a part of this tournament. Baseball is such a big part of my family’s life, and I can think of no better way to honor my brother than by raising money and awareness through a game that has given our family so much.
If you have any questions please feel free to call or email me. My cell number is 919-633-0686
Sincerely,
Ryan Combs
919-633-0686
ryancombs@yahoo.com
Broughton High School Baseball 