Child cancer patients get hero's welcome at PNC

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates gave away 20,000 Spider-Man bobbleheads before Saturday night’s game against the Cardinals at PNC Park, with the webslinger’s traditional red and blue replaced by black and gold. But the real superheroes lined up near the third-base line about 20 minutes before Steven Brault’s first pitch.

The Pirates, Pirates Charities and Allegheny Health Network partnered with the Arnie and Winnie Palmer Foundation to host a special, superhero-themed Cancer Support Night. The team welcomed 18 pediatric cancer patients and their families, held a VIP party and then recognized them on the field with a “caping” ceremony.

“Supporting cancer survivors and everything like that is really cool to see," Pirates starter Steven Brault said. "Cancer [stinks]. I’ve been affected by it. Everybody’s been affected by it. When you can go before a game and have those kids on the field and get the capes, you know they’re feeling good and feeling happy. When you can bring joy to somebody, I think that really is helpful no matter what. What the Pirates do is great, because we don’t just give donations and stuff. We give time and you give happiness and some joy, and I think that can go a long way.”

Before the game, each child battling cancer was given a Pirates superhero cape by a member of the team. Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams, Dario Agrazal, Mitch Keller, Cole Tucker, Steven Baron, Jacob Stallings, Alex McRae, Parker Markel, team president Frank Coonelly and chairman Bob Nutting were among the members of the Pirates who took part in the event.

Two of the freshly caped superheroes, Leo Zambori and Nathan Sofaly, both in remission, then threw out the first pitch to Tucker and Baron.

Then the pediatric cancer patients took part in an “Arnie’s March” off the field, a signature event of the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer.

The pediatric cancer patients and their families then ate dinner and watched the game from a Pirates World Series suite at PNC Park.

Meanwhile, in the Crow’s Nest area of the ballpark, Pirates Charities and the players’ wives hosted a raffle that included baskets full of several players’ favorite things along with Pirates gear and autographed items. All proceeds from the baskets raffle and the nightly 50/50 raffle will benefit the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute and the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation.

Upon entering PNC Park, each fan was handed a Stand Up To Cancer card to personalize with the name of someone in their lives who has been affected by cancer. The Pirates also handed out cowbells, which fans were encouraged to ring in support of cancer survivors after a SU2C moment of silence during the seventh-inning stretch.