STARKVILLE — Efforts to help former Mississippi State baseball player Ryan Duffy in his recovery from neck surgery will take a major step forward this year.
A group of MSU fans and friends of Duffy will host a “Do it for Duffy” 5-Kilometer Walk/Run and silent auction Feb. 12 in conjunction with MSU”s annual First Pitch Banquet.
The events follow the successful “Do it for Duffy” wristband campaign the MSU baseball program started shortly after Duffy was injured in August in a diving accident.
Mitch Moreland, Duffy”s former teammate and current Texas Rangers first baseman, will be the featured speaker at the First Pitch Banquet. He will sign a few dozen baseballs that will be auctioned off.
Auction items include autographed memorabilia from professional players and former area standouts Roy Oswalt and Marcus Thames and Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
A Gator Bowl football signed by MSU coach Dan Mullen and the senior class will be up for auction, as well as artwork and vacations packages.
“Since the very beginning, we”ve had so many people interested in donating items,” event chairperson Jennifer Prather said. “Eight to 10 people have reached top sponsorships, which help plan the event. Farm Bureau donated $2,500, which gave them naming rights.
“The interest in these events has been incredible. We”re pretty confident we have a good amount of items for the auction. We”d love to take more donations but are pretty full.”
Prather said the race has between 30 and 40 participants and she expects more participants on the day of the race.
The 5-K will begin at 8 a.m. Feb. 12 in the parking lot of the Palmeiro Center on the MSU campus. The entry fee is $30. The event also features a one-mile fun run for ages 12 and under. The entry fee is $20.
The banquet will begin at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children aged 18 and under.
The fundraising efforts in Starkville are coupled with successful efforts in Duffy”s hometown of Naples, Fla., and Melbourne.
“Words can”t describe how thankful we are,” Duffy said. “It”s great to have everybody help like that. People really want to see me do well. The more the merrier.”
For more information, call Prather at 662-418-0533 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
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