Walk, Run, Stand...In the Fight Against Cancer

Angels for Hope at the 2011 Relay for Life in Niles, Ohio

With Spring in full swing, so are the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraisers.  What began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt ran/walked around a track for 24 hours, now boasts more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities helping to raise money all with the common goal of finding a cure for cancer.  This year, I had a very personal reason to participate.  My father and grandfather both lost their battle with cancer in 2010.  As the importance of further research hit even closer to home, I began to realize there are very few people who can say they have not been affected by cancer.  Whether you are part of the community, a caregiver, friend, or family member walking side-by-side a person facing cancer (or a survivor of the disease) you must feel the impact of their amazing aptitude for hope and strength.

While communities across the United States are holding Relay for Life and other events, the sports and entertainment industries are also contributing in their own way.  As part of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure initiative, the Major League Baseball organization is “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” once again with its 2011 Honorary Bat Girl Contest.  Honorees stories were shared on MLB.com and one winner per MLB team was chosen.  One of those honorees, Beth Ann Vanek, is from my hometown and will be representing the Cleveland Indians at an upcoming game.  Beth Ann’s story reminds us all that we don’t have to fit a certain mold to be a cancer patient.  Young or old, healthy lifestyle or not, we are all at risk.

In addition, more and more celebrities are also beginning to endorse cancer research.  Many are doing this through an organization called Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).  SU2C is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation united to raise funds and stimulate cancer research by “bringing together the best and the brightest in the cancer community, encouraging collaboration instead of competition” (SU2C.com).  Started in 2007 by a group of women profoundly affected by cancer, they began using the resources of the media and entertainment industries in the fight against the disease.  Celebrities and organizations joined together in a 2010 in an overwhelming show of support of SU2C. Their stories, backstage footage, and the entire show can be found at http://www.standup2cancer.org/sutv.

The fact is cancer is fast becoming the leading cause of death worldwide.  Whether it is walking an hour in a community relay, sponsoring a team, or simply taking the time to share your story and promote awareness, get involved, make a difference, and become a part of something big.

Related Links:

http://mlb.mlb.com/sponsors/komen/index.jsp

http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/556792/Mom-chosen-as-Indians-bat-girl.html

http://www.eifoundation.org/

http://www.standup2cancer.org/

http://www.cancer.org/index


http://ww5.komen.org/

Women Playing Soft...I Mean Baseball?

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

Anyone who has seen the movie, A League of Their Own, knows the story of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, the first nationally recognized women’s league started in 1943.  Although disbanded in 1954, the league gave over 600 women the opportunity to play professional baseball and still inspires female athletes today.  While the league began with a mix of softball and baseball rules, eventually underhand pitching and larger balls gave way to the “male” version of overhand pitching and smaller balls.

Today, women such as Justine Siegal are following in the footsteps of these great women and inspiring the next generation of ballplayers.  Siegal’s professional history includes becoming the first female, first base coach of a men’s professional baseball team in 2009 and the first female college baseball coach from 2007-2010.  Adding to her firsts for women, Siegal found herself pitching at the Indians, Athletics, Cardinals, Astros, and Mets Spring training camps this year impressing coaches and players alike with her talent and skill. (Swain, NY Times)

While these are great accomplishments, Siegel is doing much more outside of the professional arena.  As Founder and Executive Director of Baseball for All, Siegal states, “If we tell girls they can’t play baseball, what else will they believe they can’t do?  But better yet, if we tell a girl that she can play baseball, what else will she believe that she can do?”  Siegal began her quest for girls to be accepted in the sport of baseball at the age of 13 with a coach who didn’t believe girls should play the sport.  Her determination kept her playing with the boys through high school and in men’s leagues.  Today through her non-profit organization, Siegel encourages the belief that baseball is for everyone regardless of race or gender.  She “envisions a day when girls will have the same opportunities as boys to compete in baseball at every level of play.”  Currently, Baseball for All holds the country’s only girls baseball tournament, offers national clinics and an International Baseball Academy.  They also sponsor All-Star Teams and participate in the World Children’s Baseball Fair.

So where is the future of girls baseball headed?  Are we closer to seeing a new generation of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League?  With role models like Justine Siegal, one never knows!  I for one would buy a ticket to see women play a little baseball!

Support the Throw Like A Girl Documentary

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/throwlikeagirl/re-launch-of-throw-like-a-girl-a-feature-length-do

http://baseballforall.lockerdome.com/p/HOME(D)

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2011/5/4/2152108/justine-siegal-launches-baseball-for-all-first-online-sports-network

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/sports/baseball/22pitcher.html?_r=1