Strike out Mast Cell Diseases!

White Sox Pitcher Justin Anderson and his wife Briana Anderson launch an awareness and fundraising initiative in advance of MLB Player’s Weekend “Causes” Game on August 17th

Justin Anderson, Chicago White Sox pitcher and dad to a child affected by a mast cell disease, has chosen to raise awareness of mast cell diseases during MLB Players Weekend in just a couple of weeks. This year, Justin plans to wear special cleats designed to raise awareness of mast cell diseases and he wants to get the community involved!

MLB Players Weekend is a special event where Major League Baseball players have the opportunity to showcase their personalities and passions on and off the field. During this weekend, players can wear customized gear, including jerseys and cleats, to express themselves and support causes close to their hearts.

Justin and his wife Briana reached out to the community to let us know their plan to leverage the opportunity presented by MLB Players weekend to raise awareness about mast cell diseases and also to raise funds to support the important work of The Mast Cell Disease Society.

The initiative started with a call out to the kids in our community to submit drawings and designs for custom cleats that Justin will wear during the game on August 17, 2024 when the Chicago White Sox face the Houston Astros in Houston.

We received so many amazing designs. They were all sent along to Justin and Briana to choose the winning design. An artist will paint the winning designs onto Justin’s cleats before the big game! We can’t wait to see them in action!

The Anderson’s are also generously sponsoring a fundraiser from now through the end of MLB Player’s weekend to raise funds to support TMS’ mission. Here are ways you can help in their efforts:

• Give what you can to the official Strike Out Mast Cell Disease Player’s weekend campaign. No gift is too small!
• Share this fundraiser and all our posts leading up to the game on August 17^th.  Help spread the word. You can use our Social Media Toolkit.
• If you are in the Houston area- come out to the game on August 17^th and wear purple! 
• If you can’t come to the game,  post a pic during the game wearing White Sox gear or purple or both! Share the fundraising link, and use our hashtags. #StrikeOutMastCellDiseases  #MLBPlayersWeekend #SupportAndHope #MastCellDiseaseAwareness #HATS

About Justin and Briana:

Justin currently plays for the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2014 from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he and Briana met and have been traveling wherever baseball takes them ever since. Justin was Born and raised in Houston, TX. 

As a professional athlete, Justin has a keen interest in biohacking and understanding the human body. When not training or in season he enjoys being with his family, playing fantasy football and video games. 

Briana, a Houston native who graduated from the University of Houston in 2016, initially aimed for a career in occupational therapy. However, her passion for child development and behavior therapy, especially within the autism community, shifted her path. Briana now enjoys being a stay-at-home mom with Quinn and coffee dates as a family.

Justin and Briana were married in 2019 and welcomed their daughter Quinn in November 2021. Quinn was diagnosed with mast cell disease in June 2022. Briana shared that “Being a traveling baseball family with a MCD has its challenges, but we are honored and privileged to navigate these waters. We optimize on every opportunity Quinn’s body feels good enough for an adventure. We have become master packers of foods/meds and now know how to cook all Quinn’s safe meals in a hotel room. We wouldn’t be able to travel as professionally as we do without the guidance of other mast cell parents. Knowing we are not alone brings us so much comfort.”

For more information about MLB Player’s weekend visit: https://www.mlb.com/news/players-weekend-major-league-baseball-2024