Minor League Baseball umpire Chandler Durham and former MiLB umpire David Martinez and are lacing up once again to bike for bears in support of UMPS CARE Charities. This year, they’re bringing friends!
We are thrilled to share that umpires from five states – Georgia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, New Jersey and Texas – are participating in Bike for Bears!
Chandler and David and their group of dedicated riders will ride 100 miles for every $500 pledged up to 400 miles! Help them reach their goal of $5,000 to support UMPS CARE Charities.
Here’s why they are biking:
When David and Chandler were working together in the minor leagues, they wanted to find a way to give back. While working games in Birmingham, David couldn’t help but notice that the ballpark overlooks a children’s hospital. Throughout the game, David would see helicopters coming and going, a constant reminder of how many sick kids there are. This experience inspired David to rally Chandler along with new friends and umpires to do something more, to give back with the help of UMPS CARE.
Through the UMPS CARE Blue for Kids Hospital Program, umpires deliver Build-A-Bear workshop experiences to the bedside of critically ill children in pediatric hospitals across the country.
Since the program’s inception in 2006, umpires have delivered more than 21,000 Build-A-Bear stuffed toys to sick children in hospitals!
A hospital stay can be a frightening and lonesome time for children. The Blue for Kids Hospital Program delivers stuffed animal friends for comfort, visitors who bring smiles and words of encouragement, and activity books and crafts to help pass the days.
Help our team bike for bears! Want to go along for a ride and bike for bears yourself?
Email Jennifer.Jopling@UmpsCare.com
