Len & Bob's baseball blog

Chicago Cubs Charities and Derrek Lee’s 1st Touch Foundation today announced they will join forces at Wrigley Field this Saturday, May 5, to help raise awareness for Project 3000 with an incentive program entitled Play for LCA. Their combined efforts will help fight Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), a genetic disorder which resulted in the partial blindness of Lee’s daughter.

Through Play for LCA, fans can donate to Project 3000 based on the number of home runs Michael Barrett hits and the number of saves Ryan Dempster records in 2007.

“The Chicago Cubs and Chicago Cubs Charities join Michael Barrett, Ryan Dempster and Chicago Cubs fans who have pledged their support to help find a cure for LCA,” said Mike Lufrano, Cubs senior vice president, community affairs.

The first 100 fans to sign up for the Play for LCA program at Wrigley Field on May 5 will receive a free gift and the first 100 fans to pledge $500 or more will receive a free Play for LCA jacket. Fans may donate a set amount or can choose to donate to the charity based on player performance.

Earlier this year, Chicago Cubs Charities joined Cubs broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly, WGN Sports and Anheuser Busch as hosts of the Len & Bob Bash at House of Blues. The event resulted in a contribution of $18,000 to Project 3000. Prior to the season, both Barrett and Dempster pledged funds to Project 3000 based on the same statistics as fans can now pledge.

Prior to the Cubs home game vs. the Washington Nationals on May 5, Chicago Cubs Charities and Project 3000 will participate in a pre-game ceremony welcoming a family intimately affected by LCA and leading LCA researcher, Dr. Edwin Stone, of the University of Iowa’s Carver Laboratory. There will be two Project 3000 tables at the ballpark throughout the day where fans can obtain information on LCA, buy support bands and sign up to “Play for LCA.”

For more information or to donate, please visit www.1sttouch.org.