Gulls Supporting Michael Brennan on Friday
July 22, 2021 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - The term "Island Mentality" is often used by native Rhode Islanders when referring to Aquidneck Island. Jokingly, it means that Aquidneck Island (Portsmouth, Middletown, & Newport) is its own state, almost separate from the rest of Rhode Island. However, when it comes to supporting one of its own "Island Mentality" kicks in full force.
Michael Brennan, a local coach and physical education teacher, has been influencing the youth of Aquidneck Island for decades. Football, baseball, softball, you name it, Coach / Mr. Brennan has always supplied his time and expertise. When it came for Aquidneck Island to step up and show their support, they certainly did.
This past spring, Brennan required an emergency heart transplant after years of experiencing heart complications and undergoing numerous procedures. Luckily, he received a heart and the surgery transpired at Brigham and Women's in Boston. In the wake of the surgery came the medical expenses facing the Brennan Family, but with the help of his friend Mark Rodrigues, who set up a GoFundMe page, within a few weeks the fundraiser garnered $50,000.
When seeing Brennan's former players, students, and their family's band together, the Newport Gulls wanted to do their part. In partnership with WAVE Cycle, Friday, July 23 will be Mark Brennan Night at Cardines Field.
WAVE Cycle is an indoor cycling studio in downtown Newport that offered cycle classes to the community in which the proceeds will be donated to the Brennan Family. They hosted two classes, which sold out, at Cardines Field on Friday, July 16 and have two more scheduled for the morning of the game at their facility on Thames St.
"This was such a wonderful idea that we immediately jumped on" said WAVE Owner Brian Finn. Finn continued "Any chance you can partner with another local organization like the Gulls and raise money for the benefit of someone else is special. We hope locals who haven't been to the studio will sign up for the class to ride the WAVE and support this initiative".
Gates open at Cardines Field at 5:00PM and there will be an auction held throughout the game for the benefit of Michael Brennan as well as a 50/50 raffle to raise additional funds for the family. All who have supported the GoFundMe and other fundraising events are invited to join the Gulls for the Pre-Game Ceremony which will begin around 6:00PM and the first pitch is set for 6:35PM.
Please contact the Newport Gulls at 401-845-6832 or operations@newportgulls.com with any questions or for further information. Visit www.wavecyclestudio.com to sign up for the cycle classes or follow @wavecylcestudio to learn about the WAVE.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 22, 2021
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- Gulls Supporting Michael Brennan on Friday - Newport Gulls
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