Hokies baseball shaving heads to support childhood cancer research
Darryl Slater
Sep 19, 2010
It’s football season, of course, so all anybody wants to read about is football. But Virginia Tech’s baseball team this week is doing something very much worth mentioning – and reading about.
Tomorrow at 7 p.m., at English Field, the Hokies will shave their heads to support childhood cancer research. The event is being held in conjunction with 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave – a group, coordinated by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, of 46 mothers who have a child with cancer.
Earlier this month, the women shaved their heads in Los Angeles to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer.
The number 46 is significant because every day, on average, 46 parents learn their child has cancer. Childhood cancer hits close to home for Tech’s baseball team. The Hokies and Hughes have grown close with Levi Mayo, of Craig County, and his mother, Melina Brown. Mayo had brain cancer, but is now cancer free.
Here is an update on his condition from his mom.
And here is some background information on the Hokies’ connection with Mayo.
Hughes normally sports a buzz cut, but has been growing his hair to prepare for tomorrow night. The head shaving is part of a program he launched for his team called 19 Ways. The challenge Hughes has given to his players: Find 19 ways to make the world a better place.
Why 19? It is Hughes’ jersey number, because it was the favorite number of his late mother, Alice. When Hughes was growing up in Brockton, Mass., she worked as a nurse at a nursing home. Hughes used to stop by the home and crack jokes with the residents. Alice later died of pancreatic cancer.
Hughes is soliciting suggestions for what the Hokies should do with their 19 Ways program. If you have one, you can e-mail him: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
There’s no telling how good the Hokies will be this year, as they try to replace all three of their starting pitchers, their closer and four of their top six hitters, including their top two. But there is no doubt they’ll be doing something good tomorrow.
