SALT LAKE CITY – When the Salt Lake Bees take the field on Saturday, May 7 they will be playing for the name on the front and the back of their jersey. The Bees teamed up with Huntsman Cancer Foundation (HCF) to allow donors to pick the names on the back of the on-field jerseys for the team’s 10th annual “Pack the Park Pink Night” at Smith’s Ballpark on Saturday, May 7.
The Bees sold out of the available jersey packages that included a customized pink Bees jersey. Donors were able to choose the last name printed on the back of one of the jerseys the Bees players and coaches will wear that night to honor a friend or family member that has battled cancer.
“I was excited to hear about this opportunity with the Bees to honor and recognize my mom, Darla Paepke, for the difference she made in her family and countless other lives and to support Huntsman Cancer at the same time,” said donor Marshall Paepke whose jersey will read ‘Darla’. “Having a player wear my mom’s name during a Bees game will be for me like “Angels in the Outfield”. It will be a fun and emotional night for us honoring and celebrating her life.”
Also included in the package is the chance to take batting practice on the field Saturday morning beginning at 10 a.m., a catered lunch and 10 tickets to the game that night. Following the game, donors will be invited onto the field to meet the Bees player that wore their jersey and to watch fireworks on the field.
“Every year we go out of our way to make sure we are at the ball park on this night,” said donor Michael Ochinero. “It serves as a reminder, this disease has no friends, but takes people all too soon leaving scars on the souls of the living they left behind.”
Donor Debbie Walden made a donation to support her sister Vicki who has already undergone two rounds of surgeries and a round of radiation treatments. Vicki will start another session of radiation and chemotherapy in a few weeks at Huntsman.
“The chance for her to have something super fun to look forward to is the reason that I became involved with this fantastic opportunity provided by the Salt Lake Bees,” Debbie Walden said. “For one day, she can forget about the upcoming treatments and just enjoy herself with her family. At the same time that Vicki gets a break, this gives me a chance to show my appreciation for all the care and concern that the Huntsman ‘family’ of caregivers has shown to Vicki. They have been more than wonderful.”
All proceeds from the jersey purchases have gone directly to HCF. In addition the Bees will be selling 1,500 pink t-shirts for a $5 donation to HCF during the game. Fans are encouraged to come to the game wearing pink and can receive up to a $5 discount at the box office for doing so.
Tickets can be purchased at Smith’s Ballpark box office, at all Smith’s Tix outlets and Smith’s Food & Drug Stores, by phone at 801-325-BEES (2337) or online at www.slbees.com, with no additional fees. Gates open at 5:35 p.m. for the Pack the Park Pink game with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. against the Reno Aces.
