Inspiration comes in many forms.
It came in the form of Hyun Soo Kim's bat in the ninth inning last Wednesday in Toronto, which lifted the Orioles to a 3-2 comeback win over the Blue Jays.
It came in the form of Kevin Gausman's right arm on Sunday, as the young pitcher brilliantly shut down the Yankees in a 5-2 win in the Bronx.
And it came in the form of 162 action-packed games, full of home runs, strikeouts, saves and game-winning hits over the past six months, each a crucial piece in the Orioles' quest to capture their third postseason appearance in the last five years.
Yet off the diamond, through the power of song and the generosity of those within the organization, the Orioles - along with the help of one of the team's biggest supporters - are providing inspiration to families around the country who are battling disease.
Singer/songwriter Jenae Cherry's "Don't Miss the Magic," which debuted in July, has become the anthem of the 2016 Orioles, mixing a little of the Orioles' historic past, combined with the success of the present and the promise of the future. The song debuted in July, and fans can stream the song on SoundCloud and download on iTunes.
And with the help of the Orioles, "Don't Miss the Magic" is helping bring in donations to Shannon's Fund, an organization established by the Orioles and OriolesREACH, dedicated to providing financial assistance to hospital patients and their loved ones. Beginning in July and extending through the end of the baseball season, every stream or download of "Don't Miss the Magic" will be accompanied by a $5 donation by the Orioles Charitable Foundation to Shannon's Fund. For those curious about whether the donations will make an impact, no talent, artist, writing or production expenses are being accepted or deducted from the proceeds, meaning 100 percent of the money raised is going directly to help fight against cancer and provide assistance to those who need it most.
It's certainly no secret cancer is one of the most tragic and wide-spread diseases. It's hard to find anyone in today's world who hasn't either been personally affected or know someone whose lives have been impacted by this terrible disease. Yet for every heartbreaking story of someone battling cancer, thankfully there are those doing their part every day to stand up against cancer and fight like hell to raise money and awareness in response.
Shannon's Fund was established in 2008 by the Orioles and OriolesREACH and administered by the University of Maryland Medical Center. The decision was inspired by former Orioles employee Shannon Obaker, who once served as the team's Director of Community Outreach. Obaker had a passion for helping others, a perfect fit for someone responsible for reaching out to local communities. She represented the Orioles with such pride and dedication, but tragically lost her battle with cancer in 2007 at the age of 29. Since then, however, her memory has shined on through Shannon's Fund, which in just its ninth year of existence, has already impacted hundreds of families by providing assistance for medical costs that can place such a heavy burden on families.
Orioles fans, this is your chance to capture a piece of the 2016 Orioles season while at the same time helping take a big step toward strengthening the fight against cancer. Be sure to stream "Don't Miss the Magic" on SoundCloud or download the song on iTunes.
Talk about a win-win situation.
LISTEN HERE: Don't Miss the Magic (Soundcloud)
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