ACKC Day at Bluefish Stadium

Sunday, June 26, 2016, was a day to support kidney cancer research at a baseball FUNdraiser  —  Bridgeport Bluefish vs Long Island Ducks. Ticket sales benefited ACKC and Smilow Cancer Hospital, and each donation to ACKC allowed a volunteer at Yale New Haven Hospital to attend the game for free.

Remembering Ken Shepard

Bridgeport Bluefish general manager Ken Shepard was at home at the ballpark. Sitting in his office, working two phones and his desktop computer, he regularly found himself looking for new, innovative ways to revitalize the franchise.

Shepard was not afraid to take chances. He brought Pete Rose to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard to serve as guest manager. He brought the Stratford Brakettes, an amateur softball team, to Harbor Yard for a Battle of the Sexes against the Bluefish. And he brought in Colin Buckingham, who at 4-foot-1 became the shortest player in the history of the Atlantic League.

One would never know that while Shepard was spending so much time and energy working to be the best at his profession, he was battling Stage 4 kidney cancer. He finally lost his fight when he died, at home and surrounded by family, at the age of 49.

Give to ACKC

If you aren’t able to join us for our fundraisers, you can support ACKC and kidney cancer research by contributing via our donate page.

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Your gift is very much appreciated. Action to Cure Kidney Cancer is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A copy of ACKC’s latest financial report may be obtained by writing to Action to Cure Kidney Cancer, 150 West 75th Street Suite 4, New York, NY 10023, or by calling 212 714 5341. New York State residents may obtain a copy of ACKC’s annual report by writing to the Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.