BELLEVUE, Neb. -- This morning the Bellevue University baseball team regrettably announced the cancellation of their annual Tanner's Day game with Briar Cliff scheduled for Sunday.
As a messy week of weather continues to wreak havoc in the area, Briar Cliff University has been compelled to reschedule conference games for Sunday, per GPAC rules.
No. 2 Bellevue (40-8, 17-2 North Star) wraps up the regular season today and tomorrow with a four-game series at Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D.
HOW YOU CAN STILL GIVE:
For anyone who would still like to give a donation through CureSearch in Tanner's name, those can be sent to the baseball office at (Note: Tanner's Day):
Bellevue University Baseball
Attn: Mitch Schmidt
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE 68005
Tanner's Story:
On May 19, 2003 Tanner Christian Lusk was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. After treatment and several months of remission, she had a relapse in November 2004. At that time, her doctors in California informed her family that they would not complete the procedures she needed, due to possible complications, and gave her five months to live. Soon after, through an online support group, the Lusk family met another child fighting Ewings Sarcoma, Jake Beresh of Omaha. Within days, her family found doctors here in Omaha at Children's Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center that would explore other options. Tanner's parents, without hesitation, relocated to Omaha while leaving behind their business, family, and friends in California, to give their daughter another chance at life.
Tanner underwent several procedures that were successful for a short time. In April 2006, the Bellevue University baseball program adopted Tanner and her family after seeing her story on the news. She loved baseball and we loved her. Between treatments, Tanner and her family attended practices and games on many occasions and in the fall of 2006, the entire Bruin baseball team attended her birthday party. From the time they moved to Omaha, she was with us for nearly three more years.
Tanner died September 19, 2007. One year after her passing our players along with her friends and family took part in a balloon release – she was an emotional inspiration to us all. Our current players now wear the TCL #1 cancer ribbon on the front of their jerseys in place of their number as a reminder of the special place she held in many former players' and coaches' hearts. We have retired the #1 jersey for Tanner and each year we dedicate a game to her. This game is called Tanner's Day.
Joint Statement from Bellevue and Briar Cliff Baseball:
Bellevue University and Briar Cliff University play a game each year in support of not only Tanner, but the memory of Sharon Pitkin who died in 2006 after 10 years of cancer survival. Sharon was the mother of Briar Cliff Head Coach Boyd Pitkin. Bellevue University and Briar Cliff University are proud to support CureSearch for Children's Cancer Research. We thank you for your unwavering kindness and generosity.
