I have a buddy who plays in the 100 Innings of Baseball every year and says that it's a great experience. I haven't been able to make it down myself, but hopefully I can find some time this weekend. Anyone interested in baseball and supporting research to cure ALS [which should describe just about everyone residing in the New England region] should drive by Quincy at some point over the weekend. Now back to more Deep Thoughts...




SCHILLING STRIKEOUT ALS

5th Annual 100 Innings of Baseball This Weekend!

Quincy, MA – Boston-based sports marketing firm, Charity Hop, will be hosting the
5th annual 100 Innings of Baseball Spectacular to raise funds for Curt’s Pitch for ALS, the charity of legend Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox. This marathon baseball game has raised more than $373,000 since its inception in 2004 when Schilling arrived in Boston.

When: Saturday & Sunday, August 30—31, 2008; The first pitch will be thrown at 9AM Saturday and will continue with no breaks until 100 complete innings Sunday afternoon, the 31st.

Where: Adams Field in Quincy, MA – home of the national Babe Ruth League Championships.

How: Ballplayers aged 18 to 100 who played any level of baseball from high school to pro are encouraged to sign up, play as many innings as they can, and help Curt Schilling strike out ALS. Athletes can sign-up and donors can contribute at www.100innings.com. Upwards of 100+ local players are expected to suit up and raise funds this year.

Background: The 100 Innings of Baseball Spectacular is far more significant than just 91 extra innings.
The game will aim to bring awareness and raise funds to help eliminate Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Proceeds will once again benefit the ALS Association MA Chapter and its Curt’s Pitch for ALS program – the initiative started by Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife Shonda. Shonda has participated in the event previous years showing off some of her own pitching prowess at the 2006 and 2007 events.

Curt commented on the event by saying, “… [the participants] continued dedication means the world to these patients and families and we hope that this event will continue to grow and prosper in the Boston community, and beyond, for years to come.”

Michael Lembo, co-Founder of Charity Hop and coordinator of the event, has been thrilled with the success that the 100 Inning contest has brought in its run. “100 Innings has truly taken on a life of its own outside of any vision we originally had. We are so proud of what this event has raised in money and awareness in four years, and we are excited for the prospects 2008 brings.”

Sponsors for the 2008 event currently include CVS/pharmacy, Vitamin Water, The City of Quincy, Authentic Awards, Reebok, and the MA Baseball Umpire Association.

About ALS and Curt’s Pitch for ALS
ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a devastating neuromuscular
disease that usually strikes at random. Initial symptoms include clumsiness, tripping, trouble gripping, and in some cases slurred speech. Within an average of two to five years from initial onset of symptoms, victims weaken into a state of complete paralysis. As they lose the ability to walk, move, talk, swallow, and breathe on their own, their mind and senses remain completely unaffected and intact. They become “trapped” in their bodies. There is no known cause, cure, or treatment to this day. For more information on “Curt’s Pitch for ALS”, and the work that Red Sox Pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife, Shonda, do to battle ALS, visit
www.CurtsPitch.org

About Charity Hop, LLC
Charity Hop was started by co-founders of the 100 Inning event Brett Rudy and Mike
Lembo. Recognizing a glaring need for fundraising assistance available to athletes and sports related organizations and charities – the duo started the full service consulting business in 2006. Charity Hop aims to bridge the gap from a “cool idea” to a successful fundraising
campaign. With a vast array of clients and causes – Charity Hop is making their impact felt
strongly in the philanthropic community. Since their inception, Charity Hop has had a hand
in raising over $1.4 million for an array of worthy organizations nationwide. Learn more at www.charityhop.com.