KeeperEdge Cares

KeeperEdge Cares began with the vision of our network of coaches, players, and parents serving as a vehicle for positive change within the community.  In fulfillment of this vision, KeeperEdge will devote its energy and resources to two annual charitable ventures: Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics of Kentucky and KeeperEdge for the Cure.

Polar Bear Plunge

The Polar Bear Plunge is an annual fundraiser for Special Olympics of Kentucky.  Special Olympics of Kentucky provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for over 7000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  This gives the athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.  The Polar Bear Plunge involves soliciting donations in order to earn the right to plunge into wintry water.

KeeperEdge was inspired to participate in this exhibition of bravado over brains by the example of Richard Pitcock Sr. (Owner Nathan Pitcock’s father) who has been taking the plunge since the event’s inception in 1999.  KeeperEdge clinicians will join Richard for the 2007 Polar Bear Plunge on February 24th in Louisville.  If you would like to make a donation to Special Olympics of Kentucky on behalf of KeeperEdge, please click here.

KeeperEdge for the Cure

KeeperEdge for the Cure is a part of the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, a non-profit charitable organization that provides resources to families afflicted by sarcoma and funds sarcoma research.  Each year, the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative hosts the Team Sarcoma bike tour to raise money and awareness.  KeeperEdge for the Cure is a “virtual team,” dedicating its training during this tour to finding a cure for this disease.  We will engage in a number of activities intended to raise awareness of sarcoma in our community.

What is sarcoma and why is KeeperEdge doing this? 

Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissues such as nerves, muscles, cartilage, joints, bone, or blood vessels.  It can arise anywhere in the body, frequently hidden deep in the limbs.  It is often misdiagnosed, sometimes as a sports injury, and once it’s been diagnosed properly it may be large and difficult to remove surgically.  Sarcoma directly affected the KeeperEdge community when Lucas Jones, a KeeperEdge goalkeeper, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma on January 3, 2006.  Lucas has been incredibly courageous, enduring chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.  Currently Lucas is cancer-free and undergoing physical therapy for an allograft in his hip.  KeeperEdge for the Cure was founded in honor of Lucas and his fight against this disease.

Team Sarcoma 2007 will be July 14-22.  A donation link will be coming soon.  To sponsor the event, contact Nathan Pitcock at (502)693-0342 or nathan.pitcock@keeperedge.com.

For more information about the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative click here.

http://www.liddyshriversarcomainitiative.org/index.html