On Sunday, June 2, the Atlanta Braves and Emory Healthcare, the official team healthcare provider of the Braves, will celebrate ALS Awareness Day to increase awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), elevate inspirational stories of hope and honor the legacy of Lou Gehrig.
The game’s ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Gabe Upchurch, son of longtime Braves fan Justin Upchurch. Justin, who is a patient at the Emory ALS Center at Emory Healthcare, was diagnosed with ALS in 2019.
“It is a terminal illness,” says Upchurch. “There is no cure, but there's still life to live and there's still hope to hold on to. A lot of people don’t know what [ALS] is. It’s one of those things that until it impacts you and your family, you're almost kind of oblivious to it. So, the fact that the Braves and Emory Healthcare take a day to recognize ALS and raise awareness, I think it’s hugely important.”
In honor of ALS Awareness Day, discounted and group tickets for June 2 can be purchased at braves.com/als, with $15 from each ticket purchased going to the Emory ALS Center to fund vital research and clinical trials to help improve the health and lives of people living with ALS.
During pregame, there will also be a special on-field ceremony honoring Matt Olson and his recognition as a finalist for the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, given annually by Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. As part of the ceremony, Olson, the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Live Like Lou will be providing scholarships to local students impacted by ALS.
For more information about ALS, its symptoms and the ongoing pursuit of a cure, as well as about the Emory ALS Center and how you can help, visit emoryhealthcare.org/als. The site includes a Q&A video with Jonathan Glass, MD, director of the Emory ALS Center, and C.J. Nitkowski, Atlanta Braves announcer for Bally Sports.