Rainbows for Kids, a charity for children with cancer (or other serious illness) and their families, which was started by the family of Rob Rains held their annual “All-Star Game” this week. Two Cardinals were in attendance and provided an interview to Rob Rains and the audience. (Scroll down to watch)
Each year the charity provides baseball uniforms and instruction for the kids who for some of them may never get to play on a baseball team, so the practices and games are so important to them.
This year the Cardinals pitched in by donating a Rawlings youth glove to each child and Brendan Donovan along with Alec Burleson came out to play with the kids. Chip Caray also donated his time, serving as the “play-by-play” man for the event.
The event raised the spirits of these families who are going through a lot on a daily basis. Whether their child is in treatment for cancer or they are living with long-term consequences of the disease or the chemotherapy, pediatric cancer is a long-term event and charities like Rainbows for Kids are there for them along the way.
The players were so great with the kids which made them have fun and the parents were so happy to see the smiles on their children’s faces.
Alan and Joanie Protzel and their daughter and son-in-law Erica and Joshua Kliethermes provided the free concession stand with funds from their Joe Stone Golf Tournament.
Former MLB pitcher Matt Whiteside and his wife Bashcha, who own All-Star Performance Batting Cage Center have been partnering with Rainbows for Kids for several years and they provide their indoor baseball facility for the All-Star Game. This year they provided professional baseball instructors who served as coaches for the practices. Whiteside has two teams, the Gamers and one of them, the Gamers 14U came out and worked with the kids.
Max Spitsmiller and Ryan Neise, who coach the Gamers 14U led the practices which were at Lindbergh High School on their athletic fields. Lindbergh has been a longtime partner of Rainbows for Kids also.
Some of the children are healthy enough that they are able to play on other teams with their friends, but for some, the comeraderie they find with this special team means everything to them.
There are some for whom this baseball team is the only time their child will wear a uniform and play in a game that maybe other families who have not experienced a child in treatment might take for granted.
This is why they treat it like a “real” All-Star Game, with the players introduced on the foul line and the playing and singing of the National Anthem.
This year, the National Anthem was sung by Zephany Bolduc, a member of the Rainbows for Kids All-Star team. She has had childhood cancer and also Downs Syndrome yet she knew every word of the song and belted it out with confidence.
She was joined on the field by Cameron Bell, who also is a pediatric cancer survivor as he carried the flag. One thing that is important to Rainbows for Kids is making each child feel like a star. After the Anthem was over, Zephany recieved a loud ovation and many cheers.
The families get to know each other through many activities that are held throughout the year. The parents support each other on their cancer journey and in turn they support all of the kids. The volunteers smother the kids with love and good feelings whenever they see them.
The kids got to each play catch with the major leaguers and Chip Caray. They formed three lines and each child got to do a private back and forth a few times.
One of the highlights of the night for the kids was Fredbird. The parents loved watching the kids playing baseball with the two Cardinals players but once the big bird in red showed up he was mobbed by the crowd.
Fredbird has been a big part of Rainbows for Kids ever since their first party at Cardinal Glennon Pediatric Medical Center 24 years ago. Cardinals employees Tim Faulkner and Justin Sprengel have been longtime supporters of Rainbows and they make sure Fredbird is there to bring smiles to the kids faces.
Rob Rains works with the Cardinals and Melody Yount was so helpful in securing the players. One of the fun times during the day was when Rains, along with Chip Caray brought the players out and let the kids and their families get to hear them being interviewed.
Rob Rains asked the players who was the first major leaguer they ever met. Donovan came in first talking about a former major leaguer who he met when he was playing at South Alabama.
To watch a portion of that interview, click the video player below.
Major sponsors for Rainbows for Kids are Drury Hotels, St. Louis Cardinals, and P.A.S.C.O. and community sponsors include Crestwood-Sunset Hills Kiwanis Club, The Italian Open, and Joe Stone Memorial Golf Tournament.
Rainbows for Kids serves as an inclusive, safe place for kids at all stages of their treatment. There were three kids in wheelchairs and the volunteers just grabbed their wheelchairs and pushed them around the bases. Some kids are very weak or unable to perform coordinated tasks so the volunteers step in and help.
One goal of the organization is to make everyone feel like they fit in and they are an integral part of it. They offer small group teen activities that can help with friendship and self-esteem as well as the volunteers help promote talents they spot in the children– or find out what they are interested in and cater to those interests.
The team really enjoyed being surprised by headbands identical to the ones Donovan wears in the games. True North Gloves company, run by Kristy Northway and her partners designed the signature head bands, and everyone got. They all put them right on for a photo opportunity with the players.
Cancer is a terrible thing and it’s nothing to smile about or make light of– but for a few special hours this week, these children were not cancer patients and their siblings– they were baseball players on a regular team. They got to play like other kids and they all fit in.
To find out more about Rainbows for Kids CLICK HERE.
Additional Photos:
The kids practiced at Lindbergh High School. Photo shows the Gamers 14U from All-Star Performance who helped the kids and one of their coaches, Max Spitzmiller giving instruction.
For the game, the players and volunteers divided the group into two teams and each team batted through twice. There were about 50 children in attendance.
Photo Credits: Photos were provided by Rains Family, Rainbows for Kids, Mike Bender; video by Lori Rains.
