LoMo hosting fundraiser in honor of dad
SEATTLE -- Not a day goes by without Logan Morrison thinking about his father, Tom.
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Sunday will be no exception. Morrison and his wife, Christie, will host "Uncorked for a Cause," a fundraiser for cancer prevention and awareness, at the J. Bookwalter Tasting Studio in Woodinville, Wash. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Cancer prevention has been a major cause for Morrison ever since his father, a non-smoker, died of lung cancer in December 2010.
"Actually, the day he passed away, we got the flyers for my first camp that I did for the Marlins and it was for the Lung Association, raising money for them," Morrison said.
It's a cause he brought with him to Seattle when he was traded by the Marlins in 2013.
Morrison said his goal for the event is not only to raise money for cancer research, but also to raise awareness about testing and early diagnosis for lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, between 16,000 and 24,000 non-smoking Americans die of lung cancer each year.
"You don't have to smoke to be affected by the disease. It was crazy, because we thought [my father] had a cold for a month, and then next thing you know he has stage-four lung cancer," Morrison said. "If you catch it early enough, you could be all right, but the problem is catching it early enough."
Morrison said his father had a tremendous impact on his career, teaching him the game as well as the personal drive he would need to make a career of it.
"He instilled in me work ethic and desire. I mean, you can have work ethic, but if you don't have the passion and desire to drive that work ethic, it's going to come and go," Morrison said. "You have to be mindful when you work, not just work."
One of the Mariners first baseman's proudest moments came in July 2010, when Morrison called his father and told him he had been called up to play for the Marlins. Though Tom Morrison was ill at the time, the news of his son's accomplishments raised his spirits.
"His next-door neighbor told me it was the best medicine [my father] ever could have got," Morrison said. "He was down and depressed and it basically gave him something to live for."
Even when his health did not allow him to fly, Tom Morrison took a train from his home in Louisiana to watch Logan play the Mets in New York. He watched from the stands as his son hit his first career triple on his 23rd birthday.
Morrison said his expectations for his Father's Day fundraiser aren't monetary, just for people to have a good time and raise awareness for a good cause. The event is one Morrison hopes he can host in Seattle for years to come.
"I just want to make a positive influence on the community and give back when I can," Morrison said. "I want to make it an annual thing for sure. Hopefully I'm here for a long time."