SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Time to choose your squad, San Diego Loyal SC fans.

Over the next six weeks, will you be on Team Landon Donovan, Team Carrie Taylor, or Team Nate Miller?

The SD Loyal coaching staff and their squads will be squaring off via social media-fueled challenges – while staying safe at home – to raise money until Saturday, May 2 as part of a new partnership between SD Loyal and Rady Children’s and The Conrad Prebys Foundation to raise funds for the hospital’s fight against COVID-19.

Registration is open for the multi-week virtual fundraising effort, during which SD Loyal is asking fans, as well as the community, to help reach the team’s fundraising goal of $30,000 and help Rady Children’s get one step closer to completing The Conrad Prebys Foundation COVID-19 Response Challenge.

SD Loyal players will be taking to their social media channels to announce new weekly challenges, sweepstakes and team updates.

“Like most of the world right now, we’re challenged to come up with creative ways to support our community during this unprecedented time,” said SD Loyal President Warren Smith. “We want to show support for our partners like Rady Children’s Hospital who have been at the forefront of childhood health care for more than 65 years.”

The final date of May 2 marks the original date of the Dream Big Walk which was put on hold by the COVID-19 outbreak. Challenge winners – and donors – will be eligible to win prizes and unique experiences with the SD Loyal.

“The Dream Big Walk is a new tradition at Rady Children’s, and one we are especially proud to offer our community. I am humbled by the outpouring of support for Rady Children’s when we aren’t able to come together in person,” said Patrick Frias, MD, President and CEO of Rady Children’s. “Warren, Andrew, Landon and the entire team are wonderful advocates for childhood health; and this is a safe, fun way to get to know San Diego’s newest professional soccer team while supporting our health care heroes.”

The Conrad Prebys Foundation extended a $350,000 challenge to Rady Children’s community that, when coupled with community donations, will help fund the health system’s ability to create critically needed 3D-printed nasal swabs, protective face shields and other in-demand materials, and bolster its investment in protecting frontline care providers, patients and families while fighting the effects of COVID-19.

“The urgency to fund lifesaving technology for our community is needed now more than ever,” said Alexandra Loker, senior director of philanthropy. “We have a unique opportunity to come together differently during the pandemic and support finding solutions to test, diagnose and treat community members who need us most. Although we won’t gather and walk together this year, we will bring our community together—safely, remotely, virtually—with partners like SD Loyal to show each kid, and the medical teams caring for them, that we never stop.”

“Rady Children’s is an invaluable community resource—caring for more than 9 out of 10 children in our neighborhoods,” said Donovan, SD Loyal EVP of Soccer Operations and First Team Manager. “Connecting our soccer family to the great work the doctors, nurses and Hospital staff are doing right now—for all San Diegans – is a meaningful way for us to spend our time while we’re practicing safe social distancing.”