FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND IS “CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS DAY”
THROUGHOUT MLB IN SUPPORT OF STAND UP TO CANCER
On-Field Personnel Will Wear “Gold” to Complement Efforts
By Clubs In Ballparks and With Community Hospitals
For the seventh consecutive year, MLB and its Clubs will raise awareness for childhood cancer during all games on Friday, September 2nd for a special league-wide day in home ballparks. MLB’s “Childhood Cancer Awareness Day,” held during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), will combine a visual and ceremonial demonstration of support for the cause with outreach to local hospitals treating young patients in their communities. By the end of 2022, it is projected that more than 10,000 children younger than 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone, 300,000 globally.
On Friday, September 2nd, all on-field personnel, including players, managers, coaches, and umpires will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands during all games. Home Clubs also may plan to feature ceremonial activities in their ballparks. Club activations may include youth participation in pregame ceremonies, virtual visits from players and mascots, and other special recognitions. Nonprofit partners for Clubs may include local hospital partners or organizations focused on childhood cancer, such as American Cancer Society, SU2C, Starlight Children’s Foundation, or others. Clubs on the road on September 2nd may select another home game to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. *Attached are a few examples of unique Club activations.*
As an extension of MLB’s longstanding relationship with Starlight Children’s Foundation, 15 Clubs have been selected to receive Starlight Nintendo Switch handhelds, which will be donated to a local children’s cancer hospital or hospital pediatric cancer care unit. The 15 Clubs include the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers.
Childhood cancer awareness efforts in previous seasons have included special batting practice t-shirts, online campaigns to empower fans to become fundraisers for pediatric cancer research, and donations to local children’s hospitals. MLB and Clubs have supported the fight against cancer through a variety of initiatives for many years. As Stand Up To Cancer’s founding donor, Major League Baseball and its Clubs have pledged more than $50 million to SU2C’s collaborative cancer research programs, providing invaluable support. Launched in 2013, the work of the Stand Up To Cancer – St. Baldrick’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Dream Team has helped develop new treatments for difficult to treat pediatric leukemias which have been approved by the FDA.
Stand Up To Cancer’s pediatric cancer research is one of the largest segments of the organization’s portfolio, with 31 innovative pediatric cancer research grants, including four of SU2C’s signature “Dream Teams,” and 11 individual awards to early-career Innovative Research Grants, supporting 51 clinical trials with more than 1,300 pediatric patients enrolled. SU2C-funded research has helped support two FDA approvals for new treatments to improve pediatric leukemia patients’ outcomes and minimize side effects. MLB has recognized SU2C at its jewel events since the 2009 World Series.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are inviting pediatric cancer patients and a parent from Mercy Hospital St. Louis to the game. The group will take part in a pregame field visit to watch batting practice before heading to their seats to enjoy the game. One patient, representing pediatric cancer patients, will take part in a pregame ceremony and throw out an honorary pitch. Also attending the game are Mercy Hospital pediatric care team members. On the morning of September 2nd, The Cardinals will visit Mercy Hospital St. Louis pediatric cancer patients and Fredbird and Team Fredbird will hand out items and pose for photos.
