Tanner's Day set for April 26 at Werner Park

Tanner's Day Poster
Tanner's Day Video 

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University baseball team will host Briar Cliff University on Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. at Werner Park at 12356 Ballpark Way in Papillion, Neb.

The game has also been designated as "Tanner's Day," a special Curesearch Fundraising Event benefiting the fight against children's cancer.

Admission is free, however donations are encouraged and all proceeds will be given to CureSearch for Children's Cancer Research. In addition, Werner's Parks' Kid Zone will be open and free to all spectators in attendance. 

The first 100 Bellevue University students in the gate will also receive a free food ticket.  

Bellevue, ranked No. 17 in the NAIA, has won six-straight games and has an overall record of 40-12 and finished in third place in the MCAC regular season with an 18-6 league mark. Briar Cliff won the GPAC regular season with a 14-6 conference record and a 28-20-1 overall record. 

The game will also mark the fourth time the two teams have played this season. The Bruins have won two of the three previous meetings in 2015.

Werner Park is the home of the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

New Mascot Revealed

The Bellevue University athletic department will also unveil a new Brutus mascot at the game, including a video on the big screen featuring several Bruin student-athletes. 

About Tanner's Day

In 2003, Tanner was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. After treatment and several months of remission she had a relapse in late 2004. At that time her doctors in California informed her family that they would not complete the procedures she needed due to possible complications and gave her very little time to live. Within days her family found a doctor here in Omaha that would explore other options. Without selfishness her parents disrupted their own lives by relocating to Omaha while leaving behind their business, family and friends in California. All in order to give their daughter another chance at life.

The procedures piled up, one after another and were successful for a short time. In April 2006, the Bellevue University baseball program adopted Tanner and her family after seeing her story on the news. She loved baseball and the Bruins loved her. Between procedures, Tanner and her family came out to practices and games on many occasions. In the fall of 2006 the Bruins took a day off from baseball to attend her Birthday Party. From the time they moved to Omaha she lived almost an additional three years.

Tanner died September 19, 2007. The entire Bellevue baseball team attended her wake and funeral – she was an emotional inspiration to the entire BU Athletics family. In September of 2008, one year after her passing, the Bruins along with her friends and family took part in a balloon release for her. Even though many BU's current players had no connection except for the TCL (Tanner Christian Lusk) cancer ribbon we have on the side of our hats and a game day in the spring dedicated to her called Tanner's Day. They now understand who she was and why she holds a special place in many former players and coaches hearts.

For more information about Tanner, please visit www.tannerville.com