Nashville, Tennessee January 12, 2013 – Fans of Martina McBride recently wrapped a three-month mission to fund a breast cancer research grant in honor of their favorite country music star. The Grammy Award-winning superstar is treating “Team Martina” to a special “Sound Check for A Cure” event at her sold-out concert at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center in Morgantown tonight.
“Team Martina,” organized in the summer of 2011 following the release of Martina’s Top 5 hit “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” is approaching $40,000 via on-line fundraising through the T.J. Martell Foundation, the music industry’s largest charity that funds leukemia, cancer, and AIDS research. Members signed up in September to raise money for the special grant in Martina’s name, which will be used to fund breast cancer research at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Donations are still being accepted via teammartina.com.
At today’s special event, Team Martina will be personally thanked by Martina, pose for a team photo with her, and get a special glimpse into her routine prior to her taking the stage for the show. The team will also share dinner together, and two female members will shave their heads as a show of support for chemotherapy patients. The group has also chosen to share this fun afternoon with some local cancer patients who have been invited as special guests.
“This has been truly amazing,” said Martina, who specifically mentioned the Team Martina fundraiser during an October 26 interview on the “Today Show.” “Their original goal was $15,000, and I am so proud of them for what they did. TJ Martell is such a wonderful organization, and I know this money will go a long way toward cancer research.”
Martina will hit the road with George Strait for his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, which begins January 18, 2013 in Lubbock, Texas. Just prior to the holidays, she wrapped up her wildly successful 16-city Joy of Christmas Tour.
A three-time Academy of Country Music “Top Female Vocalist” award winner, four-time Country Music Association “Female Vocalist of the Year” and GRAMMY®-winning recording artist, Martina McBride has sold more than 18 million albums and garnered numerous #1 hits throughout her career.
For more news, tour dates, ticket information and more, visit www.MartinaMcBride.com.
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Twitter: @MartinaMcBride.
About Team Martina: Team Martina is an all-volunteer group from across the country inspired by Martina’s song, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” off her 2011 album, Eleven. The song is about a young mother’s experience with breast cancer and the support of those who loved her through it. Since 2011, the team has raised over $85,000 for various cancer causes. More information can be found at www.teammartina.com.
About The T.J. Martell Foundation: The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell as a promise and in loving memory of his son, T.J., who died of leukemia. It is the music industry’s largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for cancer and AIDS. The Foundation has provided over $250 million dollars for research at 11 hospitals around the country-T.J. Martell Memorial Laboratories at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Harvard School of Public Health, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Cancer Center, The Mayo Clinic, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University and Arnold Palmer Medical Center. More information at www.tjmartell.org.
