Having experienced plenty of heartache during his young life, Los Angeles Dodgers farmhand Ralston Cash was motivated to establish the Ralston Cash Foundation in order to provide for families affected by cancer.
Cash tragically lost his mother in a car accident when he was just 3 years old. Cash was taken in, adopted and raised by his grandparents, Ralph and Sue Cash. Ralph lost his battle with bladder cancer in January 2012, and later that year Cash lost a nephew shortly after he was born.
In 2013, one of Cash’s friends was diagnosed with leukemia. The string of devastation inspired Cash to give back to those who have lost a loved one.
It began with a Facebook post asking to be pointed to a family that lost a parent to cancer. After some resistance from the husband, Cash was able to provide a Christmas tree and gifts for two sons.
That led to the Ralston Cash Foundation being officially established in 2015, and the prospect has since worked to provide even the slightest ray of sunshine during the holidays. “That text you get from the family on Christmas morning,” Cash said during an ESPN special, ‘Thank you so much for what you’ve done. They’re so happy.’
“That’s what it’s about, that’s my gift. I can’t unwrap those, but I love opening them.”
The Dodgers selected Cash in the second round of the 2010 Draft out of Lakeview Academy in Cornelia, Ga. His professional career has been met by challenges, as Cash missed the entire 2011 season after undergoing hip surgery.
The right-hander required then additional surgery to repair a torn labrum and remove a cyst found on his femur. He’s since transitioned to a relief pitcher, and spent this season with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. Rash was then among the prospects the Dodgers sent to the Arizona Fall League.
For more information on the Ralston Cash Foundation, visit the charity’s Facebook page. To lend support, T-shirts are available for purchase, with the revenue used to provide for families.
