KANNAPOLIS — Duke University’s MURDOCK Study has teamed up with the Charlotte Hounds and Kannapolis Intimidators for a fun summer of lacrosse and baseball, while encouraging students to keep reading.

 Duke staffers will promote the MURDOCK Study with information, games and giveaways for fans at four Kannapolis Intimidators home games, as well as one home game with the Charlotte Hounds, a Major League Lacrosse team entering its fourth season.

The MURDOCK Study is Duke’s health research project based at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.

 “We are thrilled to partner with these two exciting organizations that offer outdoor family entertainment all summer long,” said Perla Nunes, community engagement leader for Duke’s MURDOCK Study. “Like the MURDOCK Study, the Charlotte Hounds and Kannapolis Intimidators promote health and wellness. It’s a home run.”

 The MURDOCK Study kicks off the partnership with the Intimidators at 7:05 p.m. today when the team takes on the Hickory Crawdads at CMC-NorthEast Stadium, located just off Lane Street and Interstate 85 at 2888 Moose Road in Kannapolis.

The MURDOCK Study will also host a table with information and prizes at Intimidators’ games on June 25, July 17 and Aug. 1.

 Duke University will co-sponsor the Kannapolis Intimidators’ Second Annual Reading All-Stars rewards program. The program encourages local students in kindergarten through eighth grade to read by offering a free ticket to an Intimidators baseball game during the 2015 season.

Participating districts include Cabarrus County Schools, Kannapolis City Schools, Rowan-Salisbury Schools and Stanly County Schools.

 Next month, the MURDOCK Study will appear at the Charlotte Hounds’ June 27 game against the Denver Outlaws at American Legion Memorial Stadium, 310 N. Kings Drive in Charlotte. Lacrosse is growing in popularity across the South, and more than 4,000 people regularly turn out to see the Hounds play.

 “Look for the MURDOCK Study at baseball and lacrosse games this summer,” Nunes said. “We hope kids who come to the events will be inspired to pick up a baseball bat or lacrosse stick and stay active.”

 With participation from more than 11,500 people who live in Cabarrus County and the surrounding area, the MURDOCK Study is working to reclassify disease using advanced scientific technologies, experts from Duke and their collaborators and a network of partners.

Volunteers give about 3 tablespoons of blood and 3 tablespoons of urine one time and complete a health questionnaire, which they update every year.

 Duke launched the MURDOCK Study in 2007 with a $35 million gift from David H. Murdock, founder and developer of the Research Campus. The study’s name stands for Measurement to Understand the Reclassification of Disease Of Cabarrus/Kannapolis.