News
Padres attend cancer benefit
Players, Black take part in Celebration of Champions relay
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
05/18/09 3:15 PM ET
SAN DIEGO -- This was the first year that Padres pitcher Luke Gregerson got involved in the 14th annual Celebration of Champions, but it's a safe bet that he will be back in future years after what he experienced Saturday.The Celebration of Champions benefits the Rady Children's Hospital, and the events that were held at the Embarcadero Marina Park North included a relay event for the children with cancer and their families.
A handful of Padres players, coaches and front-office members attended the event -- one that certainly had an impact on Gregerson, a rookie.
"It was a [little] sad, because all of these little kids that you're dealing with ... you don't want to see them go through what they're going through. You don't see stuff like this every day," Gregerson said.
"But when you see an event like this, of this kind of magnitude and with all these people, it shows just how strong these families and kids are. So it's sad, but it's also uplifting at the same time."
Other Padres who attended the event were manager Bud Black, players Heath Bell, Scott Hairston, Adrian Gonzalez, Edgar Gonzalez, Chase Headley, Nick Hundley, Chris Young, Drew Macias and David Eckstein. Eckstein's wife, actress Ashley Eckstein, attended as well.
The Padres have been involved in the event since its inception. The purpose is to celebrate children who are battling cancer.
The relay is a big part, as children and their families carry a paper torch that is known as the torch of life for one-eighth of a mile.
Black ran the ceremonial first lap for the event. He purchased 400 tickets for children and their families that attended Saturday's game at PETCO Park against the Reds.
All money raised benefits the Rady Children's Hospital Cancer Care Center. The Padres Foundation is an event sponsor.
"It was great," Gregerson said. "It put such a big smile on some of these faces of these kids. Even the family members would tell you that. 'You made my kids day.' Anything we can do in our power to help, I know I'll always be there."
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
