Flip Flop Festivus Honoring Former Ravens Players

The Life and Breath Foundation will present the 4th Annual Flip Flop Festivus celebration, Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore.

Known as “Baltimore’s Best Football Party,” the evening offers the chance to mingle with past and present players from the Baltimore Ravens, according to a news release.

There will also be great food and wine, raffle prizes music and an exciting auction.

Former Ravens Qadry Ismail of Bel Air, Brad Jackson of Pikesville and Matt Stover of Cockeysville will be honored at the event, the release states.

Event proceeds will directly benefit the research efforts of Johns Hopkins University Professor Dr. David Moller, whose team is on the cusp of creating a blood test to diagnose Sarcoidosis, which affects 1 in every 2,000 Americans.

In the United States, Sarcoidosis affects African-Americans about 2-5 times more frequently than in the Caucasian population, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than men in both populations.

This test would save millions in healthcare expenses and would offer the first non-invasive diagnostic test for the disease.

Established in 1998, The Life and Breath Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to raising funds to improve treatment and find a cure for Sarcoidosis.

Sean Hull of Ellicott City, founder and president of the Life and Breath Foundation, has seen the effects of this disease first-hand. Representing the above statistic, he lost his mother (at age 59) following a 13-year struggle with the disease.

He then set out to help support, guide and inform the many individuals suffering from the disease, and help raise research dollars.

Invited guests – and past attendees – include Ismail, Jackson, Michael McCrary, Ed Mulitalo, Mike Flynn, Ed Reed, Jonathan Ogden, Kyle Richardson and Benny Thompson, as well as Josh Wilson (Washington Redskins) and actor, Kenny Johnson (FX series, "The Shield").

Individual tickets are $100 per person for the main event and $175 for the VIP reception. Corporate sponsorships also are available. For tickets, sponsorship or volunteer information, visit www.lifeandbreath.org or call 1-866-4SUPPRT or 410-750-8808.