GERRY — The eighth annual ‘Hits for a Cure’ baseball game, scheduled for this coming Saturday, June 8, will have a different purpose from its traditional support for breast cancer victims, as money raised this year will go to help the family of 37 year-old Adam Paxton, who died recently after battling brain cancer for more than two years.

This event is part of the Valley Little League tournament held at the Gerry Town Park and was started by Brad Barmore, a Gerry native and a physical education teacher at Sherman Central School, in honor of his two grandmothers, both of whom are breast cancer survivors. Barmore says that although the emphasis for the past seven years has been about breast cancer, the committee chose to make the change to help family after Paxton died without insurance, leaving behind a seven-year-old son Adam, a second grader at Sinclairville Elementary School.

The game between the Cassadaga Reds and the Sinclairville Mariners will begin at 5 p.m., the last game of an eight-game day in the tournament. Paxton’s son will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The event will feature a Chinese auction, raffles, and a 50/50 drawing as well as donations from local businesses, sponsors and fans attending the game. All proceeds will go to the family to help with medical and funeral expenses.

Adam Paxton attended Cassadaga Valley Central School and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1990. He lived just outside Gerry on the Gerry-Levant road at the time of his death. He was a welder by trade, employed by Addan Lock of Jamestown. His mother, Cynthia Repine, who is sharing the care of Adam’s son, says he was a great father and would do anything to help anyone.

Anyone who would like more information about being a sponsor or helping in any way can contact Barmore at (716) 450-5190 or by email at hfac@hotmail.com.