Boston Red Sox players Middlebrooks and Ross named Jimmy Fund Co-Captains

Today, the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announce that Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks and catcher David Ross will serve as Jimmy Fund Co-Captains for the 2014 season. As their first assignment, Middlebrooks and Ross are also this year’s spokesplayers for the Jimmy Fund’s ninth annual Rally Against CancerSM fundraiser. 

Middlebrooks is returning as a Co-Captain this year; it is the first year Ross has partnered with the charity. Middlebrooks and Ross join the ranks of past spokesplayers including Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Daniel Bard, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Trot Nixon. Middlebrooks and Ross will be ambassadors for the Jimmy Fund to raise awareness and build support for cancer care and research for adults and children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

 “We are thrilled that Will Middlebrooks continues to lend his support to the Jimmy Fund and to our adult and pediatric patients at Dana-Farber,” said Suzanne Fountain, director of the Jimmy Fund. “And we are so glad to welcome David Ross to be officially a part of our team. Thanks to the support of Red Sox players like Will and David, the Red Sox organization, and the citizens of Red Sox Nation, we continue to raise funds for cancer research and care.

As Jimmy Fund Co-Captains, the two players will be ambassadors for the Jimmy Fund, raising awareness and building support for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. They will also lend their support to Jimmy Fund events, visit adult and pediatric clinics, thank donors, and more. 

Rally Against Cancer, sponsored by Fan Band, encourages Red Sox fans to start a Rally Against Cancer team at their workplaces or schools and encouraging co-workers, classmates, and friends to each contribute $5 or more to the Jimmy Fund. In exchange, they can “Dress for Sox-cess” by wearing Boston Red Sox gear to work or school on Friday, April 4, when the Sox take on the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park for their home opener. The top fundraising workplace and school (K-12, college, or university) are each eligible for a visit from Middlebrooks or Ross.

There will be a third and fourth opportunity to win—all teams that raise $5,000 or more (workplace or school) will be entered to win a visit from Middlebrooks or Ross, and the team with the largest number of participants will receive a visit from the 2013 World Series trophy (see full contest rules at RallyAgainstCancer.org).

In eight years, Rally Against Cancer has raised more $3.5 million to support the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber. This year, the program hopes to raise $525,000. For more information, or to start or join a Rally team at your workplace or school, please visit RallyAgainstCancer.org and follow #RallyAgainstCancer on Twitter.