A Montevallo student will be the center of attention March 20 as the city kicks off its municipal baseball league.

Seven-year-old Landon Waldrop, who was diagnosed with the blood disorder idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in September 2008, will be kicking off the city’s 2010 baseball season by throwing out the season’s first pitch to his brother, Max.

Landon will throw the first pitch at about 9:30 a.m. at Stephens Park before the city teams begin their first day of play.

“Landon is very excited about throwing the first pitch,” said his mother, Dana. “Most children that are diagnosed have ITP, and recover within two-to-three months. Landon has been diagnosed as chronic.”

When a person has the blood disorder, their bodies attack their blood platelets as if they were a virus, according to Christine Grant, president of Casey’s Cause, a Trussville-based non-profit organization.

About a month after he throws out the first pitch, Landon will participate in the third-annual Casey’s Cause 10K, 5K and 1-mile Fun Run event in Trussville.

All money raised during the April 24 run will be used to fund ITP research, programs and Camp Charley, a Knoxville-based camp for children facing illness, crisis and other issues.

The non-profit organization also helps families pay ITP-related medical expenses, Dana said.

In 2009, Casey’s Cause used some of the money raised during the run to send Landon and his family to Camp Charley.

“We went last year, and it was awesome for him to meet other children with ITP,” Dana said.

For more information about the Casey’s Cause run, or to donate to the organization, visit Caseyscause.org.