jadubya
5/14/2009, 07:05 PM
NORMAN, Okla. – On Friday, May 15, fans are invited to join the No. 13 Oklahoma Baseball team this as it promotes Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners host No. 16 Texas A&M in their final Big 12 series of the 2009 season.
Prior to the game, Power Roofing and Exteriors will present a check for $4,150 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Oklahoma in memory of Mitchell Whitaker, a special friend of the OU Baseball Team. Throughout the season, the company has donated $50 for each of the 83 home runs hit by the Sooners. Power Roofing will continue to give $50 for each home run hit through the end of the regular season.
“We are proud to support OU Baseball and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and are excited to give this gift in memory of Mitchell Whitaker,” said Power Roofing owner Tim Burns. “It’s been exciting to watch the Sooners’ success this season and know that we are contributing to such a meaningful cause. We hope that Sooner fans will come out show their support this Friday.”
Mitchell Whitaker, an avid OU baseball fan, was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2005 at age eight. Also a talented baseball player, Mitchell continued to lead his Bethany Broncos baseball team even while receiving chemotherapy treatments.
In May 2006, Mitchell connected with OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway, Director of Baseball Operations Ryan Gaines, and then-OU player, Russell Raley (now a volunteer assistant coach) when they visited the OU Medical Center during the 2006 Big 12 Championship. After their visit, the Sooners invited Mitchell to join the team in the dugout as they faced OSU in the tournament and later invited Mitchell to attend the NCAA Regional Championship in Norman.
Following OU’s postseason run, Mitchell attended and excelled at OU Baseball Camp and continued to stay in touch with the OU team through the next year. Mitchell continued to play baseball and attended OU Baseball camp in 2007, while receiving more chemotherapy treatments. In August of 2007, Mitchell suffered a relapse and was admitted to the hospital. The OU coaches were at Mitchell’s bedside from September 24-26 and after a long battle with leukemia, Mitchell passed away on September 27, 2007 at age 10.
During the 2008 baseball season, Coach Golloway changed his uniform number from 29 to 18 in Mitchell’s honor.
"Mitchell was a loved individual that members of our team were lucky enough to know and spend time with,” said Golloway. He had the characteristics that we desire our players to have. It was truly amazing for someone at his age to have the toughness and the strength to battle such a terrible disease and still enjoy life to its fullest.
“The Whitakers mean a lot to Sooner baseball and they will always be a part of our family.”
This Friday, May 15, 2009, would have been Mitchell Whitaker’s12th birthday.
“Our family is humbled and honored to be a part of this great event,” said John Whitaker, Mitchell’s father. “Our son, Mitchell, proclaimed that he wanted to become a doctor to help find a cure for leukemia. He passed away before being able to see that goal realized. His last words before passing away were ‘keep fighting’ and we are so grateful for the generosity of Power Roofing and the OU baseball program as they ‘keep fighting’ to raise awareness and honor Mitchell’s legacy.
“Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20 and events like this will, hopefully, cause people to want to join the fight to find a cure. The OU baseball program made Mitchell a part of their team and it is perfectly fitting that this event is taking place on his 12th birthday at his favorite ballpark. Go Mitch Go!”
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CRAIG MORAN | Assistant Director - Baseball and Soccer Contact
University of Oklahoma Athletics Media Relations
Prior to the game, Power Roofing and Exteriors will present a check for $4,150 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Oklahoma in memory of Mitchell Whitaker, a special friend of the OU Baseball Team. Throughout the season, the company has donated $50 for each of the 83 home runs hit by the Sooners. Power Roofing will continue to give $50 for each home run hit through the end of the regular season.
“We are proud to support OU Baseball and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and are excited to give this gift in memory of Mitchell Whitaker,” said Power Roofing owner Tim Burns. “It’s been exciting to watch the Sooners’ success this season and know that we are contributing to such a meaningful cause. We hope that Sooner fans will come out show their support this Friday.”
Mitchell Whitaker, an avid OU baseball fan, was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2005 at age eight. Also a talented baseball player, Mitchell continued to lead his Bethany Broncos baseball team even while receiving chemotherapy treatments.
In May 2006, Mitchell connected with OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway, Director of Baseball Operations Ryan Gaines, and then-OU player, Russell Raley (now a volunteer assistant coach) when they visited the OU Medical Center during the 2006 Big 12 Championship. After their visit, the Sooners invited Mitchell to join the team in the dugout as they faced OSU in the tournament and later invited Mitchell to attend the NCAA Regional Championship in Norman.
Following OU’s postseason run, Mitchell attended and excelled at OU Baseball Camp and continued to stay in touch with the OU team through the next year. Mitchell continued to play baseball and attended OU Baseball camp in 2007, while receiving more chemotherapy treatments. In August of 2007, Mitchell suffered a relapse and was admitted to the hospital. The OU coaches were at Mitchell’s bedside from September 24-26 and after a long battle with leukemia, Mitchell passed away on September 27, 2007 at age 10.
During the 2008 baseball season, Coach Golloway changed his uniform number from 29 to 18 in Mitchell’s honor.
"Mitchell was a loved individual that members of our team were lucky enough to know and spend time with,” said Golloway. He had the characteristics that we desire our players to have. It was truly amazing for someone at his age to have the toughness and the strength to battle such a terrible disease and still enjoy life to its fullest.
“The Whitakers mean a lot to Sooner baseball and they will always be a part of our family.”
This Friday, May 15, 2009, would have been Mitchell Whitaker’s12th birthday.
“Our family is humbled and honored to be a part of this great event,” said John Whitaker, Mitchell’s father. “Our son, Mitchell, proclaimed that he wanted to become a doctor to help find a cure for leukemia. He passed away before being able to see that goal realized. His last words before passing away were ‘keep fighting’ and we are so grateful for the generosity of Power Roofing and the OU baseball program as they ‘keep fighting’ to raise awareness and honor Mitchell’s legacy.
“Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20 and events like this will, hopefully, cause people to want to join the fight to find a cure. The OU baseball program made Mitchell a part of their team and it is perfectly fitting that this event is taking place on his 12th birthday at his favorite ballpark. Go Mitch Go!”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRAIG MORAN | Assistant Director - Baseball and Soccer Contact
University of Oklahoma Athletics Media Relations