Houston News: raise

Monday, September 10, 2012

Runners raise funds for veterans, honor 9/11 victims

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Thousands of area runners raised money Saturday for veterans and honored victims of the September 11 attacks.

About 3,000 runners took part in the Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Run at Ellington Airport. This year's theme was "Honor the Fallen by Challenging the Living."

In addition to Houston, the run was held in Iraq, Afghanistan and 21 states across the U.S.

The Travis Manion Foundation works with veterans and the families of fallen service members. The foundation was named for U.S. Marines First Lieutenant Travis Manion who was killed in Iraq in 2007.

"It's grown into this national organization that's able to honor help and serve our veterans first responders and military community," James Brobyn, executive director, said.

Organizers of the event say the primary goal is to pay tribute to the thousands who were killed that day and the millions of men and women who have helped keep America safe in the 11 years that have followed -- a group that includes military personnel, police officers and firefighters.

"We are proud to be involved with this terrific event," Ellington General Manager Brian Rinehart said. "Ellington Airport already has a strong working relationship with the U.S. military and the Houston Police and Fire departments, so it makes perfect sense for us to be involved."

Half the proceeds from the local run go to the Travis Manion Foundation. The other half will be split between Assist the Officer, which helps Houston officers injured in the line of duty, and Team Red, White and Blue, which supports wounded veterans.

local

View the original article here

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Marathon baseball game to raise funds for local teen

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Baseball players and fans are uniting this weekend for a 12-hour marathon game to raise money for a local teen with muscular dystrophy.

The third annual Midnight Madness Marathon charity baseball game is Sunday from noon to midnight at the new Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters, on Highway 6 at Highway 90A.

Amateur players and former professional players of all ages will participate in 12 hours of non-stop play in just one game, and it's all for a good cause.

The funds raised by this event will go to 16-year-old high school student David Gonzalez -- a sports fan who loves school and wants to go to Rice University one day.

David has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which causes muscle degeneration, loss of movement and difficulty breathing. He will be a wheelchair-user for the rest of his life.

Proceeds from Sunday's event will be used to pay for expensive medical equipment David needs that insurance doesn't cover, including a specialized van and a bathroom in his family's home that is wheelchair-accessible.

You can play in this charity marathon game or go as a fan. It's a family-friendly event with a baseball dunk tank and other activities. The playground and concession stands will be open.

And the fun begins even before the game. A Home Run Derby is slated for 10am Sunday. The winner gets $500.

The Midnight Madness Marathon is organized by the Global Sports Foundation's Baseball Gives Back nonprofit and the Houston Hardball League.

Baseball Gives Back works to provide new and gently-used baseball equipment to underprivileged children and adults in the U.S and around the world. They also do special events such as this to raise funds for individuals with illnesses.

Last year's Midnight Madness Marathon raised $19,990 for nine-year-old brain cancer patient Ariel Leal and her family.

Admission on Sunday is free. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit globalsportsfoundation.org.