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Multiple Sclerosis is a disease quite close to Ryan's heart. In 1995, his mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS, a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system. MS affects roughly 400,000 Americans and can impact the body in almost as many ways.
Ryan looks at his mother's condition as an influence on his development as a person. It forced Ryan and his brother, Shawn, to assume responsibilities in his home at an earlier age than most of their peers. As President of the ziMS Foundation, Ryan is excited by the prospect of giving back to his community and finding a cure for this unpredictable disease.
Ryan's parents Keith and Cheryl will serve on the ziMS Foundation's Board of Directors. Cheryl Zimmerman is just one person with the disease. In this country alone, approximately 200 people are diagnosed each week. Worldwide, MS may affect 2.5 million individuals.
The Washington Nationals and Pitcher John Lannan on Aug. 6 announced the launch of Lannan's Cannons, a ticket program designed to bring joy into the lives of sick children and their families. Lannan will host residents of The Children's Inn at NIH, located in Bethesda, MD, for a day of baseball and fun at the ballpark, away from their treatments and the hospital. Lannan will also lend his name and image to The Children's Inn Sports Ambassadors program, which aims to raise funds and awareness for their $93-a-night-campaign, which refers to the cost of housing families at The Inn.
Beginning on Sunday, August 9, Lannan will host 25 guests from The Children's Inn at Nationals Park for all remaining Sunday home games (August 23 vs. Milwaukee, September 6 vs. Florida and September 27 vs. Atlanta). In addition to the ticket to the game, each guest will receive a food voucher for a hot dog, chips and a drink, and a Lannan's Cannons t-shirt. Lannan will meet with the children and their families when they arrive at the ballpark, schedule permitting.
"My hope is that bringing these children to the ballpark will provide them with an escape from the rigors of treatment, and that they can enjoy a baseball game and a day with their families," said Nationals Pitcher John Lannan. "I'm proud to partner with The Children's Inn at NIH to raise awareness for their mission, while creating new Nationals fans throughout the region."
The Children's Inn Sports Ambassador Campaign was created and is currently managed by Bethesda, MD based Formula Sports & Entertainment Group (FS&E). For more information, go to formulasportsgroup.com
