LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- When Brian McCann hits a home run this year, he'll have the satisfaction of knowing that his power is helping both the Braves and the fight against childhood cancer.

Through his relationship with the Rally Foundation, McCann has established a program called the McCann 16 Home Run Challenge. The program allows fans to pledge varying amounts of money that will be donated each time the four-time All-Star catcher homers this season.

"It's just a way to raise awareness and bring attention [to the fact] that the fight against childhood cancer is underfunded so much," McCann said. "It feels good to be able to give back, and to do this in your hometown is just awesome."

Fans can either either set a pledge amount or use one of the three tiers that have been set up by the Rally Foundation.

Atlanta residents Skip and Victoria Moore have already pledged $1,000 for every home run hit by McCann this year.

"We believe that Brian's success can translate into a significant increase in the awareness of childhood cancer research and the Rally Foundation," the Moores said in a statement. "We welcome others to join us in the McCann 16 Home Run Challenge and Brian's goal of turning homers into hope."

Double A sponsors pledge $1.60 per homer, Triple A sponsors pledge $16 per homer and Big League sponsors pledge $160 per homer.

To find out more about the Rally Foundation and the inaugural McCann 16 Home Run Challenge, including sponsorship information, visit www.mccann16.org or www.rallyfoundation.org.

McCann, who has averaged 21 homers per season during his first four full seasons at the Major League level, and his wife, Ashley, have served as spokespersons for the Rally Foundation since 2008. The non-profit agency, which was started in Atlanta by Dean Crowe, is dedicated to raising awareness of and funds for childhood cancer research.

Through a celebrity softball game and fund-raising banquet they staged in November, the McCanns helped raise more than $300,000 for the Rally Foundation.

Crowe has developed a deep appreciation for the McCanns, and in November proudly told the story of an event that showed the kind of relationships the couple has developed with some of the children.

During the 2008 season, while her husband was completing his responsibilities with the Braves, Ashley made numerous trips to visit Alexa Rohrbach, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of one and then battled long enough to see the sixth grade.

Ashley McCann visited the young girl at least three times and gained an appreciation for her courage.

"She was just a special girl," Ashley said. "There was something about her that was just amazing."

When Rohrbach passed away last winter, the McCanns went to the funeral home and found themselves at the back of a line of approximately 600 guests. Instead of accepting Crowe's invitation to move to the front of the line, they waited 2 1/2 hours to pay their respects.

"I'd say there were 600 new Brian and Ashley McCann fans, and not because he's an All-Star baseball player," Crowe said in November.