Cubs' Rizzo celebrates being 8-years cancer free
CHICAGO (FOX 32 Chicago) - Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is celebrating being 8-years cancer free.
Rizzo tweeted about the milestone Friday morning.
"8 years ago TODAY I was told I was in remission," Rizzo's tweet read. "I remember crying and hugging my family thinking how lucky we were."
Rizzo, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma when he was 18, underwent chemotherapy while playing for the Boston Red Sox.
He has since launched the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation to support children and their families who are battling cancer.
Rizzo recently reached out to a 2-year-old Iowa boy after learning about his battle with leukemia. Parker Hopkins of Muscatine, Iowa was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on August 13, 2016, just two months shy of his second birthday. So Rizzo sent Parker a letter of encourgement, sharing his story about his own battle with cancer along with some advice. Enclosed with the letter was a $2,500 donation for Parker.
The Chicago Cubs will hold Let's Go Gold day at Wrigley Field on Friday when they host the San Francisco Giants. Cubs players will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands in support of children battling cancer.
Cubs charities will donate a portion of the game's 50/50 raffle proceeds to the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, Joe Maddon's Respect 90 Foundation, and Jon Lester's NVRQT campaign, which support pediatric cancer research and programs.