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Dodgers to help raise funds for prostate cancer research as part of Fathers Day

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LOS ANGELES, Calif.–Father’s Day at Dodger Stadium will be used to raise funds for research and increase awareness of prostate cancer, honor the winner of a new contest and continue the team’s recent tradition of letting fans on the field to play catch.

Like with Sunday’s other Major League Baseball games, all on-field personnel–players, managers, coaches, trainers, umpires and groundskeepers–for the Los Angeles Dodgers-Houston Astros game will wear blue wristbands and blue ribbon uniform decals symbolizing prostate cancer awareness.

The blue ribbon logo also will appear on the official dugout lineup cards, which will be blue. There will also be messages giving health information about prostate cancer.

Father’s Day marks the conclusion of the “Home Run Challenge” where fans have the opportunity to make monetary donations and pledges to the Prostate Cancer Foundation at www.homerunchallenge.org or make a $10 donation by texting HRC to 20222.

Michael Milken, the once imprisoned junk bond financier turned founder and chairman of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, will participate in a pregame ceremony on the field, along with former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda and outfielder Matt Kemp.

Dale Kerns of Hesperia will be honored in a pregame ceremony as the Dodgers’ winner of Major League Baseball’s inaugural “My Dad, My MVP” contest, which recognizes extraordinary fathers and father figures. More than 3,200 stories were submitted. Winners were selected by a celebrity panel and online voting. Kerns was nominated for the award by his daughter Kristy.

Kerns, who is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer, will be joined by his two children, five grandchildren and wife Rita. Kerns and his wife had their first date at Dodger Stadium.

Kerns will take the field with the Dodgers as the game begins and announce “It’s time for Dodger baseball” at the start of the game.

For two hours after the game, the Dodgers will conduct their eighth annual Father’s Day Catch, with families invited onto the field to play catch. Participants will receive foam baseballs.

By Steven Herbert | City News Service

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