CHICAGO — Shortly after the Chicago Cubs made history by advancing to the 2025 NLDS, Anthony Rizzo turned the moment of victory into something bigger than basketball. The veteran star, who battled and beat cancer, announced that he would donate a significant portion of the Rizzo Foundation to support pediatric cancer patients in Chicago hospitals.
“As a representative of a great basketball hero like the Cubs, I will also do my part for the team,” Rizzo said in a postgame press conference. “For me, the joy of winning is only when I can share it with those who are still fighting for their lives.”
This gesture is more than just a promise. According to the Rizzo Foundation, the donation will be used to cover medical expenses, build living spaces for children and their families, and host community events that help them feel joy and hope.
The story is iconic: Rizzo, who faced leukemia in 2008, is now firmly in the spotlight of the MLB playoffs, giving hope to those who are walking the same path he once walked. Images of him in the background, waving his hands and smiling after the game, then immediately talking about causing trouble for cancer patients, created a dangerous press room.
“He was more than a basketball player. He was an inspiration,” one Cubs fan cried outside Wrigley Field upon hearing the news. “Every time the Cubs won, Rizzo reminded us that the greatest victory is overcoming pain.”
With the Cubs just cementing their place in the NLDS, Rizzo’s actions have sparked a wave of love in the community. Fans have begun to dedicate their support to his long-running campaign on social media, with many sharing personal stories of loved ones battling cancer.
The Cubs’ 2025 playoff run will certainly be challenging. But before discussing their next opponent, Anthony Rizzo saw that sometimes, the true meaning of a season isn’t just on the field. It’s how an icon uses victory to sow hope — and his actions have left the city of Chicago quiet, then booming with the belief that… miracles are still to come.
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