WIFFLE Ball Tournament in CT on August 23

The Darien-based ITP Foundation will hold its 1st Annual ITPF WIFFLE® Tournament on Saturday, August 23, at the Darien Town Hall Fields 1 & 2, in Darien, CT. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the ITP Foundation to raise funds for its programs for children with the bleeding disorder ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura). Registration is now available at www.itpfoundation.org or by emailing ; the first 30 teams to register will receive a free official ITPF WIFFLE Tournament hat.

The ITP Foundation is proud to announce that The WIFFLE® Ball, Inc., the founders and official manufacturers of the perforated plastic ball, have sanctioned this tournament.

“We are thrilled that the ITP Foundation has chosen to organize a WIFFLE® tournament to raise funds for ITP research and family support,” states David J. Mullany, President of The WIFFLE® Ball, Inc. “The proceeds from this event should have a direct and lasting impact on the research into this disorder and assist the children and families affected by ITP. We hope that all involved enjoy a fun-filled day as they come together to support the event.”

You will be able to play in The ITPF WIFFLE Tournament in one of two leagues available: The “Family/Fun League” is for those who just want to have a good time and support a good cause. The “Competitive League” is for those with a higher skill level and perhaps a more serious approach to sports. Each team is guaranteed to play at least 3 games during the day!

“This is an excellent opportunity for some good old fashioned family fun that also supports a really good cause,” says Christopher Landino, Executive Director of the ITP Foundation. “It’s great exercise and a great bonding experience for families and friends. And we’ll even have prizes for the top two teams of each League and for the team with the best uniform.”

The official rulebook for the ITPF WIFFLE® Tournament is available at the ITP Foundation’s WIFFLE webpage (www.itpfoundation.org/Wiffleballtrnmnt.htm.)

Registration for either League is $100 per team through August 1, and $115 after August 1. Each team must have two to five players on the day of the tournament. The first 30 teams to sign up for the tournament will be given the official ITPF WIFFLE Tournament hat!

The ITP Foundation is currently looking for corporate sponsors and volunteers to help make this tournament the best experience for everyone. For more information, visit www.itpfoundation.org and print the 2008 ITPF Wiffle® Tournament Sponsorship Package, or email for further details.

About ITP
ITP is an autoimmune disorder of unknown cause that affects both children and adults. ITP occurs when the immune system malfunctions and produces antibodies against the body's own platelets. These antibodies destroy the platelets, resulting in a decreased level of blood platelets needed for normal blood clotting. Characterized by a low platelet count, notwithstanding normal bone marrow production and the absence of other specific causes (such as leukemia or aplastic anemia), ITP can lead to life- threatening bleeding episodes.

About the ITP Foundation
The ITP Foundation is a Darien, CT based non-profit which was established to raise awareness of ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura), a serious bleeding disorder. The Foundation helps families with children and adolescents with ITP who need financial assistance to manage and treat the disorder, and funds research to find the cause of and cure for ITP. Information: www.itpfoundation.org