Patient, doctor to share first-pitch duties on Childhood Cancer Awareness Day at ball park
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies will join Major League Baseball and all MLB Clubs in a league-wide effort to raise childhood cancer awareness by dedicating a special “Childhood Cancer Awareness Day” at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, with two Chester County residents playing a big role in the evening’s events.
The Phillies are partnering with Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children to host Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night as part of the MLB initiative. Highlights include:
The first 500 people to purchase tickets through the Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night page will receive a voucher for a #PhilliesGoGold t-shirt. Plus, $10 from each ticket purchased through this event will benefit pediatric cancer research through the Nemours Foundation.
• Limited edition #PhilliesGoGold T-shirt. The first 500 people to purchase tickets through the Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night page will receive a voucher for a #PhilliesGoGold t-shirt. Plus, $10 from each ticket purchased through this event will benefit pediatric cancer research through the Nemours Foundation. Shirts will also be available for purchase at the ballpark ticket windows with all proceeds benefitting the Nemours Foundation.
• Phillies Paint Nite to benefit families battling pediatric cancer. The Phillies will host a special pre-game Paint Nite party in the Phillies Party Tent before the 7:05 p.m. Phillies-Braves game. There will be an exclusive two hour painting event led by one of Paint Nite’s talented artists. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to two families who are battling pediatric cancer, as well as to the Nemours Foundation to benefit pediatric cancer research.
• Special ceremonial first pitch. Local Chester County residents, 11 year-old Andrew McVey, who is battling pediatric cancer, and his doctor, Dr. Andy Kolb, head of the cancer center at Nemours, will each throw out a first pitch side-by-side.
• Lineup of Courage on-field. Nine children battling pediatric cancer from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and Nemours will be introduced and line up along the first baseline with Phillies players prior to the National Anthem. The children will then enjoy the game from a Gold Suite, specially decorated for the Lineup of Courage participants and their families.
• During Friday’s game, a child from Nemours will be honored as the Rothman Hometown Hero and will change a base during the third inning.
• After the fifth inning, local pediatric cancer patients from Nemours will dance on the field with the Phanatic.
“The Phillies are proud to join Major League Baseball and Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in the fight against pediatric cancer,” said Michele DeVicaris, Director, Community and Charity Events, The Phillies. “Not only will this night provide local children, who are battling pediatric cancer, an unforgettable evening, it will also raise much needed awareness to this disease.”
In partnership with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), MLB has encouraged Clubs to support this new initiative in commemoration of childhood cancer awareness month through a variety of special activations. On September 2nd, all Major League players, coaches, umpires and grounds crew members will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands to further promote awareness for childhood cancer, which is the leading cause of death by disease in children aged 15 and under in the United States. In Canada, more than 1,500 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Every year, an estimated 250,000 new cases of cancer affect children under the age of 20 worldwide.
All Clubs were able to choose to partner with local nonprofits, including hospital partners or organizations focused on childhood cancer, for their Childhood Cancer Awareness Day activations.
MLB Advanced Media will coordinate a digital effort to increase exposure of this effort by placing information and editorial features on MLB.com, Club sites and MLBCommunity.org.
MLB and Clubs have supported the fight against cancer over the years. As Stand Up To Cancer’s founding donor, Major League Baseball has provided both financial support (nearly $40 million) and countless opportunities to build the Stand Up To Cancer grassroots movement by encouraging fans around the world to get involved. MLB has recognized SU2C for the past six years during the World Series. Recent Club activations have included special gold pediatric cancer awareness batting practice t-shirts, online campaigns to empower fans to become fundraisers for pediatric cancer research and donations to local children’s hospitals. Previous league-wide efforts included a $1 million donation to the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation.
