The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation hosted its 13th Annual Walk-Off For Cancer at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, raising nearly $1 million to benefit pediatric cancer patients, families, and fund research. More than 1,000 people participated on-site or virtually in the event, which consisted of a timed 5K run, 5K walk, entertainment, food and drinks, photo opportunities, and a special kid’s zone presented by i9 Sports.
Anthony Rizzo, a major league ballplayer and a cancer survivor, started his foundation in 2012 to assist families, and he did just that with a surprise announcement that the nonprofit would be paying the mortgage of a Coral Springs family for a year as their child battles leukemia. Jackson Walker is a patient at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and his single mom, Britt McCluskey, lost her job after missing work to care for her child.
“This is another example of us helping out a family going through a hard time,” said Rizzo, a Parkland native. “Now they won’t have to decide between going to work to pay their bills or being beside their son the whole time, so hopefully this takes some pressure off them for the year.”
Rizzo has a long-standing relationship with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. He has made numerous visits to the Hollywood facility and his foundation has been responsible for donations and sponsorship of nearly $2 million there since 2019.
The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by major league ballplayer Anthony Rizzo. Anthony realized during his own battle with cancer that no matter how difficult fighting cancer was for him, it was even more difficult for his family. Anthony believes that an individual does not battle cancer alone, but that the whole family battles it together. The mission of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation is to raise money for cancer research and to provide support to children and their families battling the disease.
