Post date: Jun 15, 2016 4:40:50 AM

The inaugural Softball Against Cancer (SAC) Day was organized at the Hoofddorp Pioniers Stadium in the Netherlands by Ginger de Weert, a long-time Dutch national team pitcher.

The project, which first started four years ago through the baseball counterparts Baseball Against Cancer (BAC), involved a day-long series of softball clinic sessions run by some of the top players and coaches in the Netherlands to raise money for cancer research.

The event began with a speech by BAC founder, Swen Huijer, and a minute of silence dedicated to everyone who is fighting cancer or who has won or lost the fight. After an opening pitch by Swen, the clinic sessions began with a focus on defense, hitting, running, and bunting. The day ended with a softball game.

“Nowadays, everybody knows someone who has survived cancer, who is fighting cancer or who has lost the battle.  The SAC Day makes me so proud and emotional.  I feel so blessed that my family can say that we’ve survived cancer twice.  I’m proud of everyone who helped out — all the volunteers, all the instructors, all the softball players, and their parents. A total of 128 girls from all over the country came to Hoofddorp. It was a special day, with a special feeling and a special goal,” de Weert said.

As a result of the SAC Day, 3,500 euros was credited to the account of the Dutch cancer research foundation KWF.