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BLACKSBURG, Va. - Head Coach Pat Mason is pleased to announce the Virginia Tech baseball program will continue, for the fourth straight academic year, the 19 Ways campaign that started back in 2010 under then head coach Pete Hughes Throughout the campaign, the baseball players must find 19 Ways to help make a difference within the community this upcoming year.

“Our 19 Ways program has provided our student athletes an unbelievable opportunity to make a difference,” Mason said. “The program allows us to bring awareness to great causes, raise money for those in need and brighten someone’s day. Our decision to continue the program was a ‘no brainer’.”

Also, for the fourth straight fall, the Hokies will be hosting its signature event “Shave for the Brave” on Saturday, Sept. 28 at English Field, which will see more than 60 players, coaches, Tech administrators and friends and family of the Hokies shave their heads in an effort to raise awareness for childhood cancer research. The shave, which will begin at 1 p.m., is being held after an intrasquad scrimmage between the team that starts at 10 a.m. and is open to the public.

Then, at the end of the afternoon, the team will present a check to Melina Brown, who raises money for cancer research in association with St. Baldrick’s Foundation and “46 Mommas Shave for the Brave”. Her son Levi - an adopted member of the Tech baseball team - was diagnosed with medulloblastoma when he was four. Now 13, he is cancer free, but everyday 46 mothers in the United States are told their child has cancer, so the fight never ends.

“We could not be more proud to host our annual ‘Shave for the Brave’,” Mason said. “Levi is an inspiration for our team, our campus and our community. For us to be able to host this event with him and his mother, Melina, is a tremendous honor. The money we raise is vital to achieving our ultimate goal, a cure to childhood cancer.”

The past three seasons, the Hokies have dramatically increased their level of donation to Brown and St. Baldrick’s. The first year was a modest $500 and the second year the sum multiplied by 10 - to $5,000. With the help of social media a year ago, the team was looking to make that figure jump to $25,000 and actually exceeded it, pushing past $37,000.

Again, the team will be looking to raise at least $25,000 and will be turning to web to help with its fundraising efforts. The following site - http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/9105/2013 - gives all the details. Scroll down then click on “View All Participants” and sponsor your favorite Hokie.

Other events already scheduled for the fourth year of 19 Ways include helping with Micah’s Backpack, the Taste of Inspiration (partners with the Special Olympics), Herma’s Readers book collection and continuing the costume game started a year ago. To see images of past events and to stay current with this year’s 19 Ways events, go to the campaign’s facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/19Ways. To suggest events or to make donations directly to 19 Ways, contact the baseball office by phone (540) 231-9976 or email vtbaseball@vt.edu.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).