More than 350 children, parents and staff gathered to celebrate cancer survivorship during the Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field on Sunday, July 22. From six-months-old to college age, over 70 survivors attended the event.
Adding to the celebration were visits from Tampa Bay Rays players Wade Davis, Jake McGee (pictured on the right) and Brandon Guyer who signed autographs and posed for photos. Families had the opportunity to meet mascots from across Florida who came to The Trop for a birthday party honoring the Rays' mascot Raymond. All Children's cancer survivors were called on to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch and were featured on the big video screen.
Cancer survivor Declan delivered the ball to the pitcher's mound. All survivors were treated to fun games, lunch and tickets to the Rays game. Debbie Del Favero RN, Hematology Oncology Director, spearheaded Cancer Survivors Day with help from a multi-department committee. "Our nurses, doctors and healthcare team are happy to be able to reunite with our cancer survivors and celebrate with them," she said during interviews for Rays' television and radio.
Cancer Survivor Day gives ACH a lot to celebrate:
In the last 40 years, the overall survival rate for children's cancer has increased from 10% to 78%.
All Children's Hospital has over 1,000 survivors since inception of the program nearly 40 years ago.
Each year, All Children's helps guide more than 120 new patients with cancer back to good health.
