The Los Angeles Dodgers helped brighten the day of patients at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital by having Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, AJ Pollock and Edwin Rios surprise them. The Zoom party was in recognition of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and MLB’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
“It was cool to play games with them and then get to ask them questions,” said a 13-year-old patient at Mattel Children’s Hospital. “I got to ask them if they had any pets. They told me they had a cat and a dog and Edwin used to have a pony!”
Buehler led in a signing of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and answered questions about playing Little League, how many teams he was on while growing up and more. Bellinger and Rios participated in a baseball-themed game of Jeopardy, and Pollock and Rios took part in a Q&A.
“During these tough times, our patients, their families, and UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital staff are blown away by the kindness and generosity of the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Chase Child Life Program director Kelli Carroll said.
“While we await the days we will be able to connect in person, we are thankful for the Dodger players ‘zooming in’ and sparking joy.”
Dodgers vice president of external affairs and community relations Naomi Rodriguez added: “Our connection to our community is vital for the Dodger organization and we value opportunities like today to visit – even virtually – with these amazing youngsters.
“Being a young patient in the hospital is difficult enough and then intensified with the pandemic, and our players were thrilled to play games and bring joy to families at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital at today’s event.”
Dodgers players and coaches wore gold ribbon decals on their jerseys and matching wristbands. MLB and Starlight Children’s Foundation also collaborated for each hospital selected by 15 clubs to receive 100 baseball-themed hospital gowns for children undergoing treatment.
Childhood Cancer Awareness cleats
During one of his many visits to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Justin Turner invited four hematology-oncology patients to help him commemorate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by having them decorate a pair of his Adidas cleats.
“For the last three years I’ve been visiting CHLA in August to give kids who are battling cancer a chance to design my cleats that I wear for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,” Turner told DodgerBlue.com at the time.
“It’s something that I’ve found is a great way to connect with the kids and create a positive experience for them while they are cooped up in a hospital room.”
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