16 JUN 2015

Fans Stand Up to Strike Out Cancer



It was a scoreless game at the end of the third inning when something unexpected happened at last Saturday's Sacramento River Cats game.

An announcer had strolled out onto the field, with two women at his side: Amelita Topasna and Daniella Counts. He introduced them as NorthBay Cancer Center patients, and cancer survivors. He then asked people in the crowd to stand up if they were cancer survivors themselves, or to stand up if they knew someone who had cancer. A hush went about the stadium as many, many fans stood up at their seats.

The announcer explained that Genentech and the River Cats were teaming to support NorthBay Cancer Center, and that Genentech was making the life-saving and cancer-fighting drugs. It drew cheers and applause from the crowd and dramatic attention to the theme of the night: Strike Out Cancer.

This is the fifth year that Genentech-Vacaville has joined with the Sacramento River Cats in a benefit for the NorthBay Cancer Center, and Saturday's game was the official kick-off event. As in the past, Genentech has promised to donate $100 to the cancer center for every strike out a River Cats pitcher throws at a home game this season, up to $25,000. With this season's donation, Genentech will have donated more than $210,000.

Amelita, a nurse in NorthBay Medical Center's 1800 unit, and Daniella, both had received Genentech drugs during their cancer treatments, and agreed to be spokespersons for the Strike Out Cancer event. They, in turn, were treated like royalty at the game, as they and their families were invited to watch from a luxury suite hosted by Genentech employees. They were also featured in a pre-game video that was shown on the Jumbotron, where they described their cancer journey. James Long, M.D., NorthBay Cancer Center oncologist, was also featured in the video.

"When I looked around and saw all those fans standing up, it made such an impact on me," Amelita said. "It made me realize I want to keep speaking up, and spreading words of hope."

Among the nearly packed stadium were more than 200 NorthBay supporters. They cheered especially loudly not only for their Strike Out Cancer ambassadors, but for fellow employee Colleen Knight, program coordinator for NorthBay Healthcare Foundation, as she stood on the field to sing the national anthem.

The River Cats won the game, and the evening ended with a festive display of fireworks.

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