Throwin’ Smoke BBQ Benefit | October 3, 2015

The Round Rock Express baseball team may have departed for the offseason, but Team Jana is still very much around at Dell Diamond. On Saturday, October 3 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., the Express will host the first ever “Throwin’ Smoke BBQ Benefit” at Dell Diamond featuring $10 BBQ plates from Southside Market and Barbeque. All proceeds will benefit Team Jana as Jana Almendarez continues her fight against brain cancer.

On June 28, 2015, the Round Rock Express baseball family was rocked by the news that Jana, General Manager Chris’ wife, had been diagnosed with Stage IV Glioblastoma. The tumor in her brain was the size of a pecan, and due to its location, inoperable. As a community, we have rallied together to raise funds for the family and awareness to the cause through #TeamJana as she has undergone radiation and chemotherapy treatments over the last three months.

For $10 cash donation, attendees will receive a two-meat BBQ plate (sausage and chopped brisket) and sides. There will be complimentary bottled water and Pepsi products as well. The Budweiser Football Tailgate will be set up for attendees 21 and older to enjoy complimentary refreshing Budweiser products and watch all of the football action on multiple TVs. The Central Texas Harley-Davidson firetruck will also be on-site with multiple TVs displayed so you won’t miss a second of the game! Spirit 105.9 will have a live broadcast with music playing throughout the event. There will also be a Sock Hop Kids Zone featuring bounce houses, inflatable slides and much more!

For attendees who want to purchase a BBQ plate but can’t stay for the fun, there will be a drive-through lane set up so they can purchase their plate without leaving the car.

“The community’s constant outpouring of love and support for Jana and the Almendarez family has been tremendous,” said Express Senior Vice President of Marketing Laura Fragoso. “Jana’s unwavering faith has been a true source of inspiration to many and we’re thankful to have the opportunity to give back in this way.”

A silent auction will be set up featuring fantastic gift packages including a party suite at an Austin Spurs game, gift cards to Greenhouse Craft Foods and Scarlet Rabbit, a Nolan Ryan Beef prize pack with an autographed home plate, Nolan Ryan Beef & Barbeque Cookbook and four authentic steak knives, a Pluckers Wing Bar package, $200 to P.F. Changs, R&R Limousine and Bus gift card, a Kendra Scott jewelry package and more! All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit Team Jana as well.

Thank you to the following sponsors for their support of the Throwin’ Smoke BBQ Benefit and Team Jana: Southside Market, Brown Distributing, Pepsi, Ryan Sanders Sports Services, Spirit 105.9, Central Texas Harley Davidson, the City of Round Rock, Ideal Signs, RBank, Rock Sports, Round Rock Fire Department, Round Rock Police Department, Sock Hop Inflatables, the Star of Texas, Texas Disposal Systems, Twin Liquors and US Foods.