Nine cancer survivors and their physicians will take the field at Dodger Stadium on Saturday evening to kick off City of Hope’s ThinkCure! Weekend.

The annual event celebrates courageous cancer patients and survivors and pays tribute to the hard-working health care professionals and researchers dedicated to supporting them.

The ninth annual ThinkCure! Weekend will take place during the Dodgers’ homestand on Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27 as the Los Angeles Dodgers square off against the Milwaukee Brewers beginning at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday and 1:10 p.m. on Sunday.

Throughout the weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans — including their fans in the Santa Clarita Valley — can help support and raise awareness of City of Hope’s efforts to find new lifesaving treatments and cures for cancer patients.

To date, ThinkCure! has raised more than $2 million to help support research grants, setting the stage for medical breakthroughs.

The first pitch on Saturday will be thrown by 11-year-old cancer survivor Amanda Cooper, who was treated at City of Hope for leukemia.

On Sunday, San Diego State outfielder and City of Hope Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient Chad Bible will be throwing the ceremonial first pitch with his physician Stephen J. Forman, M.D., the Francis & Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and T cell Immunotherapy Research Laboratory, who will be catching Bible’s pitch.

Over the years, City of Hope has been extremely gratified by the enthusiastic support and commitment received from baseball fans.

“For nearly a decade, City of Hope scientists and researchers have benefited from the funding raised by Dodger fans during ThinkCure! weekend,” Forman said. “Together, Dodger fans and City of Hope have set the stage for groundbreaking medical advances to help more patients.”

In support of ThinkCure! weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will conduct an online auction to benefit ThinkCure!, where fans can bid on autographed game-worn Dodger jerseys. The online auction will run September 18-October 1 at www.Dodgers.com/auctions. In addition to the auction proceeds, LADF will contribute $25,000 to City of Hope.

Donations can be made by visiting City of Hope’s ThinkCure! website at www.cityofhope.org/thinkcure.

About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution.

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