(Cleveland, OH) - Childhood Cancer Awareness Day is September 1st throughout MLB in support of Stand Up to Cancer.
2021 marks the sixth consecutive year the MLB and its Clubs will raise awareness for childhood cancer during games on Wednesday 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. Approximately 15,000 children younger than 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States.
On Wednesday, September 1st, all on-field personnel, including players, managers, coaches, and umpires will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands during all games.
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.
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.
In addition, the Indians are a founding partner of VeloSano. VeloSano is a year-round, community driven fundraising initiative to support lifesaving cancer research at Cleveland Clinic. In seven years, the Indians have helped raise over $24 million, that is already at work in the fight against cancer. On September 11, thousands of riders will take off in support of VeloSano, with families on the shortest route stopping at Progressive Field for a fun stop on their ride.
Indians starter Aaron Civale has combined his passion for kids with his family connection to cancer and childhood illness to create his Pearls for Perseverance player program in 2021. He and his fiancée, Fran Barilla, have teamed up to bring smiles and positivity to pediatric cancer patients at the Cleveland Clinic. The right-hander signs his warm-up baseball prior to each start and ships the baseball to a friend in need at the Cleveland Clinic. Patients who receive baseballs often reach out to Civale, and he and Fran schedule a Zoom call to connect with the patient and offer words of encouragement virtually.
(Copyright, iHeartMedia 2021)