On Saturday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m., Minnesota United will “go gold” and host Kick Childhood Cancer Night at TCF Bank Stadium as the team faces the visiting Portland Timbers. The Loons join their fellow MLS clubs in support of this fifth-annual month-long campaign from MLS WORKS, MLS’ community outreach initiative, which benefits Children’s Oncology Group.
MNUFC will partner with the LampStrong Foundation –– founded by club goalkeeper and stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma survivor, Matt Lampson –– CureSearch and the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital to raise awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer, in addition to integrating pediatric cancer patients and survivors into the month and matchday experience.
The Loons kick off the month of awareness with a team visit to Masonic Children’s Hospital, where they will share in activities and crafts with pediatric cancer patients and their families and make room visits. They will also host a patient from the Austen Everett Foundation at training before honoring them at the game.
Gold is the color for childhood cancer awareness and in-game elements at TCF Bank Stadium will include gold corner flags and nets, a gold captain’s armband and unique jersey patches. Players will again exit the tunnel surrounded by patients, survivors and volunteers from the childhood cancer community holding massive pitch scarves. A patient will join the captains at midfield for the Itasca Society coin toss and the L'Etoile du Nord recipient, which recognizes community members who embody the club’s core values, will be connected to Kick Childhood Cancer efforts.
MNUFC will help raise funds by contributing five dollars to partner organizations CureSearch and Masonic Children’s Hospital from every game ticket sold through organizational links. The team will hold its own auction benefiting the LampStrong Foundation.
Fans can stop by the CureSearch or Masonic Children’s Hospital tables in-stadium to learn more about these organizations and how to get involved. Additionally, unique gold-themed merchandise will be available at stands throughout the stadium, with proceeds benefiting Children’s Oncology Group.
Fans are also encouraged to interact on social media with #ScarvesUp. For each post submitted, MLS will make a donation to Children’s Oncology Group.
Come make history as MNUFC opens the upper deck at TCF Bank Stadium and goes for 50,000 fans when the Loons face LA Galaxy in their final home match of the 2018 regular season presented by Star Tribune on Sunday, October 21 at 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit MNUFC.COM.
