Miami Marlins’ Dan Straily Helps Raise Money For Parkinson’s disease Research

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Dan Straily is partnering with the Blechman Foundation to inspire people to make a pledge for every one of his strikeouts in April. Funds raised will help with Parkinson’s disease research.

COMMUNITY VOICES

BY CHRISTINA MAYO
christinammayo@gmail.com
March 21, 2018 06:38 PM
Updated March 21, 2018 08:18 PM

Each April, the Miami family behind the Blechman Foundation organizes a special event to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease research. They do it with the help of baseball.

This year, Miami Marlins starting pitcher Dan Straily is partnering with the foundation to encourage people to pledge money for every one of his strikeouts throughout April.

The Blechman Foundation’s fourth annual Baseball Challenge is called “Strikeout PD!”

Siblings David and Melissa Blechman, and their dad Bill Blechman, began their quest in 2012 to honor mom and wife Nancy, who was diagnosed at age 50 with the debilitating disease.

“April is National Parkinson’s Awareness month and the start of the MLB season, so conducting the Baseball Challenge for PD research that month was a natural, like a hand in a glove,” said David Blechman, the Foundation’s president, in an email.

Straily, who throws from the right, is known for his consistency, durability, and strikeouts. In his seven-year MLB career, Straily has had 549 strikeouts.

From the inception of the foundation, baseball has always been a focus. Through their work, David and Melissa Blechman have learned that PD does not discriminate among its victims.

The disease has weakened and disabled many professional athletes, including boxing legend Muhammad Ali; baseball players Dave Parker and Kirk Gibson; basketball’s Brian Grant and Jerry Sloan; hockey’s Al Arbour; runners Roger Bannister and John Walker; football greats Lou Groza and Dave Jennings; and cyclist Davis Phinney.

Every year, Parkinson’s afflicts about one million people in the United States. It destroys brain cells that are essential for normal movement and patients experience shaking or tremors, slow movement, rigidity of muscles, and problems with balance and gait.

There is no known cure.

The Blechman Foundation and its Baseball Challenge have made a difference in PD research. The foundation has raised nearly $300,000, including more than $60,000 in the annual baseball challenges. So far, it has funded six grants for studies, which have had major scientific impacts.

“From modest beginnings, the Blechman Foundation has become national in scope, and the Foundation’s grants have truly made a difference in PD research regarding neuroprotection,” said Melissa Blechman, the Foundation’s vice president, in an email.

“We honor our Mom with the Blechman Foundation, but the foundation’s success is made possible because of the generosity of people who support our effort, like those who contribute to the Foundation’s Baseball Challenge each April,” said David Blechman.

To make a pledge for “Strikeout PD!” visit https://blechmanfoundation.org/ where you can also learn more about PD research and the successful studies the Blechman Foundation has funded.

To see the Miami Herald’s version of the article visit http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/community-voices/article206287844.html.