The inaugural “Birds Battle Cancer” football game was held in October, when the Oak Ridge Eagles played the Orchard View Cardinals in an event to benefit Mercy Health Partners’ Johnson Family Center for Cancer Care. Oak Ridge football coach, Jack Schugars and Lanette Galdeen, event chair, presented a check for $11,030 to honor friends and family members who have been touched by cancer.

“I think I can speak for both the Oakridge and Orchard View communities when I say that we were happy to participate in our first “Birds Battle Cancer” to raise money and awareness for cancer treatment. We especially appreciate the fact that it will benefit Muskegon area cancer patients and their families,” said coach Schugars.

Football fans wore pink apparel to the game and Oak Ridge players wore pink socks and pink decals on their helmets at the event. Galdeen was inspired by Lowell High School’s “pink jersey” initiative and is already making plans for next year’s event.

“We are honored to receive this impressive donation from Oak Ridge High School and its supporters,” said Roger Spoelman, President and CEO, Mercy Health Partners.

The Johnson Family Center for Cancer Care opened in April, in partnership with Cancer and Hematology Center of Western Michigan, Mercy Health Partners, and Nina Johnson, MD, PC. The Center was made possible, in part, by a major gift received from the Paul C. Johnson Foundation and members of the Charles E. and Patricia B. Johnson family. The new Center provides a patient-centered model of care for cancer patients and includes a wide range of services and programs with the latest technology in the area.

Mercy Health Partners, is a teaching hospital and the second largest health system in West Michigan with more than 4,300 associates, some 21,000 inpatient discharges and 137,000 emergency/urgency care visits annually. The system includes four hospitals and 375 physicians, and a number of exclusive specialty physician-care services for the region. To learn more, visit www.mercy-healthpartners.org ( http://www.mercy-healthpartners.org/ )

Photo: On behalf of Oak Ridge High School, Football Coach, Jack Shugars and event chair, Lanette Galdeen present a check for $11,030 to Roger Spoelman, President & CEO.Mercy Health Partners and Colleen Flynn, Director, Clinical Informatics.