At the age of 18, after being drafted by the Boston Red Sox, Anthony Rizzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a diagnosis that could have potentially ended his professional baseball career before it really even began. But Anthony did not let this diagnosis stop him from living out his dream. He maintained a positive attitude and battled cancer with undeniable courage and vigor. After enduring 6 months of chemotherapy, Anthony returned to the baseball field with more enthusiasm and determination than ever.
Seven years later, Rizzo is the first baseman for the Chicago Cubs, and just recently hit his 100th career home run. This past year he was selected to play in the MLB All-Star Game as well as the 2015 MLB Home Run Derby. He has quickly risen to the top, and he has become one of baseball’s top players to watch.
But what really sets Anthony apart from most Major League baseball players is his compassion, resilience and generosity. Family remains the most important aspect of his life, and through his battle with cancer, this became even clearer to him. He was influenced by the fact that his illness affected his family just as much as it affected him. And for that reason, he created the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation to help other children and families fighting cancer. Rizzo took this as an opportunity to give back to the community, and impact others. The foundation’s mission is to “provide support to children and their families battling the disease,”and it raises money for cancer research through various fundraisers, such as his annual “Walk-Off for Cancer 5K”. The organization is entirely run by Anthony himself, with assistance from his family and close friends.
Anthony is constantly devoting time and energy to giving back to his fans, especially those who are young and battling this terrible disease. It is no surprise that he was awarded the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s 2015 Heart and Hustle Award, an award that is given to baseball players who show outstanding sportsmanship, heart, and hustle, on and off the field. He is also the Cubs' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, another award that honors a particular player who “demonstrated extraordinary effort in bettering the lives of others.” And yet most people are unaware of just how much joy Anthony is bringing into the lives of others because of his humility. More than anything, his foundation provides him with a chance to make others smile, which of course, brings him just as much happiness in return. “Just seeing a Chicago Cubs baseball player come in puts a smile on their face, so being able to do that, I feel, helps them out a lot, and everything I’ve been through kind of helps me see kids put a smile on their face is huge,” Rizzo says.
Keep an eye out for Anthony Rizzo as he continues to make a difference on and off the baseball field! To donate, or learn more about the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, visit www.Rizzo44.com
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