The Southern Ohio Copperheads will raise funds for childhood cancer awareness and research while directly supporting a local family at the annual Turn It Gold With Passion game on Wednesday, July 9 at 7:05 p.m. at Bob Wren Stadium.

This year’s game, in collaboration with Turn It Gold and Passion Works Studios, will spotlight the Lucas family of Albany, Ohio. 4-year-old Delaney Lucas was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2023. Today, Delaney shows no evidence of the disease.

Her grandfather, Todd Lucas, describes her as a “tenacious little girl who has no idea of how serious her situation is. She only wants to be able to get out and play with her family and dog, Merlin.”

While this event is centered on Delaney and her family, it also connects to a broader movement. Turn It Gold is a nonprofit based in Houston, Texas dedicated to elevating childhood cancer awareness and challenging the one-size-fits-all approach that currently dominates cancer research. 

“Oftentimes, our research is focused on adult bodies,” said Dr. Lynn Harter, an Ohio University professor and producer of the PBS documentary “Realistically Ever After: A Turn It Gold Movement.” “We do the best that we can to water down those treatments so they work for kids, but what we really have to do is tailor treatments to kids’ bodies. So that’s part of what we’re raising money for.”

Notably, the nonprofit’s mission extends beyond backing new studies. “We’re also raising money to help survivors, because they often live with long-term life effects and trauma,” said Harter. “We’re investing in work that tries to improve their quality of life.”

Turn It Gold’s success in Athens is powered in part by a decade-long partnership with Passion Works Studio. Passion Works Studio’s Turn It Gold product line consists of their signature “Passion Flowers,” yard signs, necklaces, and more. Products of the partnership are available for purchase “everyday, all year round,” according to Patty Mitchell, the founder of Passion Works Studios. This merchandise will also be sold at the July 9 game. “20 percent of each sale goes to Turn It Gold,” said Mitchell. 

At the heart of the Copperheads’ Turn It Gold With Passion game is a commitment to supporting those affected by childhood cancer in the local Athens community and surrounding areas. “We always have multiple families in this region that are impacted by childhood cancer, and so being able to support them locally is incredibly important,” said Harter. “One of the primary causes of bankruptcy in the U.S. is families who have kids who are seriously ill.”

“We want to be able to raise money and support those families as they walk through this,” Harter said. “At the same time, we also need to think about: how do we shift the landscape of care? How do we create survivors?”

​​All ticket sales proceeds from the game will go directly to the Lucas family, and funds raised from a silent auction of game-worn Turn It Gold signature jerseys will assist ongoing childhood cancer research.

Fans who are unable to attend the game will still have the opportunity to support the cause. More information about how to contribute remotely can be found at copperheadbaseball.com.

By: Maggie Malone