Hope College football fans, you have a special opportunity to join the Flying Dutchmen's support of Van Andel Institute Purple Community game next month.

There are a limited number of purple Hope College football jerseys available for purchase. Sponsor a player's jersey, and you can honor someone with their name on the back of a jersey a Flying Dutchmen football player will wear during the September 16 home game against Lakeland, Wisconsin at Smith Stadium.

Cost is $150 per jersey. Orders must be received by Wednesday, August 30.

Order at http://give.vai.org/site/Calen dar?id=100421&view=Detail.

Jerseys will be cleaned after the game and delivered to those who purchased them.

The Flying Dutchmen are teaming up with Van Andel Institute and Purple Community this fall to raise support and funds for cancer and neurodegenerative disease research. Hope will wear purple jerseys and play in honor of loved ones and friends impacted by cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Fans are encouraged to wear purple to the Hope Football Purple Community Game football game.

All proceeds from the Hope Football Purple Community Game will benefit Purple Community and help underwrite a summer internship for a Hope College student at Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This summer, Philip Versluis, a junior majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, is interning at Van Andel Institute. He is being mentored by Dr. Scott Rothbart, an Assistant Professor in the Van Andel Institute's Center for Epigenetics.

Van Andel Institute employs more than 330 scientists, educators and staff working to accomplish the mission of improving the health and enhance the lives of current and future generations.

Van Andel Institute scientists are making discoveries and collaborating with scientists and research institutions around the world to move promising therapies into clinical trials. Van Andel Institute also has programs designed to enhance science education across all ages.

Purple Community is Van Andel Institute's grassroots community awareness and fundraising program.

Learn more: Purple Community | Van Andel Institute