Thousands of fans packed in the Detroit Tigers vs. Florida Souther Moccasins exhibition game, today at Joker Marchant Stadium.  In collaboration with the Tigers 75th Anniversary of Spring Training in Lakeland Florida, today also commemorated the 25th anniversary of this exhibition game between these two teams. 

To honor this special day, The Detroit Tigers paid tribute to former Tiger pitcher, Joe Niekro and The Joe Niekro Foundation.  Starting the game, was president and founder of the foundation, Natalie Niekro, throwing out the first pitch to who else, but her brother, assistant coach of the Moccasins, Lance Niekro.  The Joe Niekro Foundation used today as a chance to bring awareness to the foundation, while promoting their national Wanna Get Lucky? initiative and the Text to Give campaign, which allows people to make a $10 donation straight from their cell phone simply by texting the word STRIKEOUT to 20222.  Today’s outcome was such a success that The Tigers have invited the foundation back to the stadium on March 1st to continue raising money for brain aneurysm research and treatment.  

While at Joker Marchant, Natalie was able to meet The Westdorp’s, a family who lost their 40 year old son to a brain aneurysm just days before this past Christmas.  Chris Westdorp was a loving father of two beautiful children who now are left behind to try and make sense of the silent killer that just took their father.  The Joe Niekro Foundation will be making a donation to the Westdorp family from the proceeds made throughout the week from Wanna Get Lucky? t-shirt sales and any Text to Give donations that come through.

We invite you to take part in this special tribute by purchasing your Wanna Get Lucky? shirt today or by simply texting STRIKEOUT to 20222.  Your strikeout WILL make a difference.  Thank you for your support and for continuing to help bring awareness to the enemies we know as aneurysms.