The Victory Project will host the fifth annual blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT Saturday in the Budweiser Brew House at Children’s Mercy Park. Donors can use the sponsor code “victoryproject” to sign up online, and all who participate will receive an exclusive “I Bleed Sporting Blue” shirt.
Nearly 100 percent of cancer patients receive blood products and The Victory Project has teamed up with the Community Blood Center, which serves hospitals in the Kansas City area as well as eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
Saturday's blood drive is part of a continued celebration during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, with Sporting KC and The Victory Project hosting a series of community events in September leading up to the team’s highly anticipated Childhood Cancer Awareness Match on Sept. 30 against Real Salt Lake at Children's Mercy Park.
The fourth annual Childhood Cancer Awareness match will see The Victory Project welcome more than 70 families the foundation has assisted for a special halftime ceremony. The Victory Project will also grant a Sporting Wish for a 19-year-old battling cancer since 2015 and continue its tradition of honoring a child with cancer at every Sporting KC home match. On Sept. 30, a 14-year-old from Topeka with acute myeloid leukemia will be welcomed into the Victory Suite at Children’s Mercy Park and recognized pre-game as part of the VIP experience.
The match will also be part of MLS WORKS’ league-wide Kick Childhood Cancer campaign featuring the following elements:
- Gold adidas Nativo 2018 match ball
- Gold-themed corner flags, goal nets, captain’s armbands, commemorative jersey patches and custom-designed jersey numbers featuring the childhood cancer awareness ribbon
- Limited-edition Kick Childhood Cancer scarves and t-shirts worn by players, coaches and referees during pre-game
- Limited-edition apparel, including lapel pins and plush toys, available to purchase at MLSstore.com
Visit VictoryKC.org for more information about upcoming events, including Celebrity Bartending with Sporting KC players at No Other Pub on Oct. 4 and Pitch Black presented by Audi at Children’s Mercy Park on Oct. 12. Funds raised from both events will benefit The Victory Project.
