Strike Out Cancer 2009

Fifth annual event most successful ever
The fifth annual Strike Out Cancer Day was held at AT&T Park on Father's Day, June 21. The event celebrates survivorship, provides information about available services, and raises funds to underwrite support for participants at The Wellness Community.

This year, nine survivors from The Wellness Community shared their stories in a pre-game field ceremony. Phil Balousek, a retired Oakland police officer and four-year pancreatic cancer survivor, threw out the ceremonial first pitch (a tailing fastball on the inside corner).

And then our participants joined the Giants players on the field to the cheers of the crowd. Surely inspired by us, the Giants went on to defeat the Texas Rangers 3-2.

Strike Out Cancer Day is sponsored and produced by our friends at Genentech. Genentech also provides The Wellness Community with a grant representing $200 for every home strikeout by the Giants — a total of $100,000 for the year. And Genentech and Wellness Community volunteers sold over $15,000 in raffle tickets during the game.

In all, proceeds from Strike Out Cancer Day 2009 will underwrite the support for over 190 participants at The Wellness Community this year!