ELON, N.C. – Players and coaches from the High Point University baseball team joined with members of the Elon baseball team in shaving their heads to help raise money and awareness for cancer research following the game between the Panthers and Phoenix on Wednesday, April 9, in Elon, N.C. The event was part of a partnership with the Vs. Cancer Foundation.
“I thought that tonight was a great effort by both High Point and Elon,” HPU baseball head coach Craig Cozart said. “Our guys did a great job of showing support for the McGillicuddy family. The vast majority of our team and several members of the support staff stepped up and had their heads shaved. I know it means a lot to the McGillicuddy family to see that people care about them at that level.”
The game was selected for the event after Joe McGillicuddy, an Elon pitcher and twin brother of HPU starter John McGillicuddy, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the fall. Joe McGillicuddy threw out a ceremonial first pitch to his brother prior to the game.
“Seeing everyone get their heads shaved for a cause like this means a lot to me, especially having a brother dealing with cancer right now,” John McGillicuddy said. “It really shows the support this team has for one another away from the field and it shows how much of a family we all are.”
The Vs. Cancer Foundation is a group that raises money towards childhood cancer research. For every dollar donated, half of the proceeds go directly to a local childhood cancer hospital, while the other half goes to fund research at a national level.
According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts and Figures 2013, childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of kids and an average of 36 children are diagnosed with cancer each day in the United States alone. Around the world, over 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually.
The Vs. Cancer Foundation was started by former University of North Carolina baseball player and childhood cancer survivor Chase Jones, the nephew of former Elon head coach Rick Jones. After being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at age 18, Jones began recruiting people to share his passion for giving support and hope to kids fighting cancer.
The High Point University men’s lacrosse team also partnered with the Vs. Cancer Foundation in the fall when members of the team shaved their heads to raise awareness and money.