The gridiron gang is hitting the field getting ready for their upcoming fall season.
Before they take on their fierce opponents they are taking on cancer in their third annual Football for a Cure, their annual pre-season scrimmage, set for Aug. 13.
The Wolves raise money for the Great Lakes Cancer Institute and McLaren Breast Center in Clarkston for those who have been touched by cancer.
“It is the second year McLaren has been involved with Football for a Cure,” said Carrie Bishop, manager at McLaren Breast Center.
The first year brought in $8,737 in donations and 1,200 attended the event.
“The money raised last year went to patients being treated with cancer at the Great Lakes Cancer Institute and having mammograms at McLaren Breast Center,” explained Bishop. “It will go towards women who are uninsured or underserved in Oakland County.”
The McLaren Breast Center, a state-of-the-art facility, is dedicated to providing advanced and comprehensive breast health services and Great Lakes Cancer Institute offers a number of services.
They include clinical research, a specialty clinic, medical oncology, radiation oncology, orthopedic oncology, specially-trained oncology nurses, multi-disciplinary cancer conferences, PET/CT services, a laboratory patient service center, a patient resource center, oncology community education and patient support services. It also helped with transportation for those unable to get to the institure for treatment.
Bishop is thankful for the Clarkston Wolves with what they are doing with Football for a Cure.
“The football team has been a tremendous help,” she said. “The players work really hard in practice and camps yet they find the time in their busy schedules to help the community members that may be in need of transportation or our mammography service they may not be able to afford otherwise.
“It really is overwhelming what they do for the community and for the medical and cancer centers. The time they have spent promoting this event and helping with this event along with helping the people in the community is truly amazing especially for being young men.”
Kick-off for the scrimmage is at 7 p.m. and Bishop invites everyone to come out to support the team and the community.
“Come enjoy a great day with other community members,” she said. “What we are trying to do is keep benefits like this and the money we raise in the community instead of taking it outside the community. Everything is going to be used to help members.”
More information on how to make a donation or further support the event can be obtained by calling the McLaren Breast Center-Clarkston at 248-922-6810. Donations are accepted and checks are payable to Clarkston Football.