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BLACKSBURG – For the fifth straight academic year, the Virginia Tech baseball team will participate in the 19 Ways campaign, which started back in 2010. 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,” Tech’s head baseball coach Patrick Mason said. “The program allows us to bring awareness to great causes, raise money for those in need and brighten someone’s day.”

And the Hokies aren’t wasting anytime with finding events for the 2014-15 academic season as players will kick-off this year’s campaign by supporting the “Lemonade for Livy” effort this weekend. They will be selling lemonade for three days straight starting on Friday, July 25, from Noon to 4 p.m. outside of Cassell Coliseum on the corner of Spring Road and Washington Street. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., players will be on hand selling more lemonade at English Field during the Pastime Baseball Tournament.

“Lemonade for Livy” was created by Livy’s Hope, an organization whose mission is to support children with medical needs and their families. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Epilepsy Foundation and their goal to find a cure for epilepsy. The intent of the campaign is to turn the country purple (the color of epilepsy awareness) by holding at least one lemonade event in each state.

"Lemonade for Livy" was inspired by 9-year old Olivia Scheinman who has had severe epilepsy since birth. Although she cannot walk or talk, she has incited a movement of children and families coming together from around the United States to raise money for epilepsy research. Her twin sister Hailey leads the charge from Clearwater, Florida, and motivates people to get involved through her Facebook videos.

“I will do anything to help Livy and I think everything is possible if you believe in it,” Hailey has said. “We need a cure so my sister and everyone else with epilepsy can live in peace.”

Other events anticipated for the fifth year of 19 Ways include their annual Shave for the Brave and military appreciation breakfast, and assisting in efforts with Micah’s Backpack, Taste of Inspiration (partners with the Special Olympics), No Shave November and Special Olympics bowling nights to name a few.

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 Austin Hartsook, Tech’s Director of Baseball Operations, by phone: (540) 231-9976 or email: hartsook@vt.edu.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Baseball