How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

41- Walk Off For Cancer

Anthony

As a part of trio of fundraisers I do, the walk off for cancer event was today in my hometown of Parkland, Florida. We had a little course set up to walk around. Raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer. We do this along with a laugh off and a cook off and it usually does really good with raising money. And we have one of Clara's paintings as a part of the auction for the walk off this year so I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun.

After a week of preparing t-shirts and gift bags and all that other good stuff we were ready to go. I wake up early and take a shower to make sure my hair looks nice. I put on the Anthony Rizzo family foundation shirt and a pair of jeans and I was ready to go. Clara had already gone ahead of me and helped check people in and hand out breakfast and waters for everyone who was helping out.

Once I get there it was about time to start walking. I give a little speech at the finish line before finding my family. I lace my fingers through Clara's and make sure she's right by my side. We finally start to walk and I say hi to everyone. It wasn't a long walk, just long enough to get the point across.

"I love that you and your family gets to do this together" Clara admits.

"I do too. Not that we need and reason to hang out more than we already do, but it is something we all really care about and we have the opportunity to help people. I hate knowing that there's something I can do to help someone and thinking that I'm not going to. Everyone has the power to do something incredible and I've been given the gift of baseball to use as my platform to show just how easy it is to lend a hand to someone who needs it" I explain.

"The world can use more people like you and your family" she claims.

"I could say the same for you" I smile.

"What about one day having a little version of me and you running around one day" she asks as she bites her lip. I guess we've never really talked about having a child before.

"You mean like you and me having kids" I question and she slowly nods her head. I smile big as I think about raising a kid with her.

"There's nothing that would make me happier than having a kid with you" I insist and she smiles.

"Really" she asks.

"Yeah. I mean I love kids, I love you, having a kid with you sounds absolutely incredible. To have someone who represents the best parts of me and you, that would be amazing" I admit.

"I guess until we can find some more of us it's just you and I and your family trying to make this world a better place" she insists.

"I like that sound of that" I admit.

After walking for a while we finally arrive back at where we started. But there was people there who wasn't there when we left.

Once we get there I see Addison and his family who also reside in the Florida area, Jon and his family and David and his family at the finish line. I smile big as they walk towards me with gifts in bags.

"What in the world are you guys doing here" I ask as I give everyone a hug. Hudson runs right into Clara's arms and she picks him up. He loves her so much.

"Clara called for some backup with the fundraiser and we decided to stop by and help you guys out" David explains.

"God, you guys are seriously the best. What do I owe you" I ask.

"It's a fundraiser Tony" Jon laughs. "You don't owe us anything. Except maybe one of those shirts you're wearing" he says and I nod.

"I can do that" I agree.

I get everyone some shirts so they change and we go to the live auction being held at the high school. Jon and Addi and David all brought cool one of a kind things to auction off and all the proceeds we make go to a children's hospital down here in Florida.

I step up to the podium at the front of the auditorium and have my parents and brother and Clara beside me. I look out to the crowd and smile when I see some familiar faces.

"I would like to thank everyone for coming to this walk off for cancer event. We already raised $125,000 from donations and the 3k we walked a little earlier. I cannot express what this means to me and my family, your guys' time and effort is going into making a better world for these kids to live in and no words could express how thankful I am to be able to connect you to people who need your help. I hope you guys see as much as I do, how impactful things like this are and you continue to help out. Thank you" I say before stepping away.

I join the crowd and sit between Jon and Clara. The first thing we were planning on auctioning off was Clara's painting because that's what we figured would raise the most money.

She did a incredible lifelike painting of the field back at Wrigley. It had the bleachers filled with fans and the new scoreboard up with a picture of the team celebrating one of the many walk offs we had last year. In big letters it said "believe" across the top and I think she really outdid herself with this one.

"Woah" Farrah whispers as they reveal it. I smile big as I turn to Clara who was already looking at me so lovingly. I quickly press a kiss to her lips and she smiles up at me.

The bidding started at $500 but it quickly went up and up and up. Eventually it stalled at $15,000 and that was still so cool. That someone was willing to spend that much money on a painting and that all that money is going to go to the kids.

"Twenty thousand dollars" Jon suddenly yells out and my eyes go big. I sharply turn my head to him and see Farrah had the same look I did.

"Jon" I whisper.

"What? That's a steal. Plus I was looking for something to put up in the kids' room. At least this way I know the money is going to good cause" he shrugs.

"Sold" the auctioneer yells and Jon smiles big.

"Sweet, where do I go" he asks and I just shake my head.

"They'll come get you" I assure him.

"Did you really just spend 25 grand on one of my paintings" Clara asks and he scoffs.

"Yeah. I wanted it from the start" he insists.

"Thank you Jon, for believing in me and helping out a great cause" Clara insists.

"Anything for my second favorite couple" he winks.