Rockers host Strikeout Cancer Night June 28

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist will hold a special Strike Out Cancer Night on Friday, June 28 when the Rockers take on the Charleston Dirty Birds at Truist Point at 6:35 p.m. Rockers assistant general manager Caroline Cooling, a cancer survivor who has battled Hodgkins Lymphoma over the past eight months, will be honored by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Caroline received her treatment at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only one in the region designated by the National Cancer Institute, which fuels Atrium Health Levine Cancer with innovation and research.

“When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I visualized this night,” said Cooling. “Not about celebrating my battle to overcome the disease, but I wanted to honor those who have previously battled it and are currently fighting cancer. I want it to be about everybody who is currently fighting and rally support for beating cancer.”

To show support for those battling this disease, the Rockers will wear special purple jerseys, socks, and hats, which will be auctioned off following the game. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the LoveLine fund, a philanthropic fund through the High Point Regional Health Foundation to benefit cancer patients at Hayworth Cancer Center, now part of Levine Cancer, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center. The Douglas S. Witcher Family Foundation will match all funds raised throughout the event up to $100,000. Paula Del, a Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor, will sing the national anthem.

“The LoveLine program is a vital component of the holistic care that is provided by the Hayworth Cancer Center team. This program offers cancer patients much needed support during a very difficult time. It is the community who makes this possible through their generous support,” said Leigh Ann Venable, Director of High Point Regional Health Foundation. “We are so grateful to Caroline Cooling and the Rockers for their willingness to give back in such a significant way. A huge thank you to Doug Witcher and the Douglas S. Witcher Family Foundation for their generosity in matching funds raised for this event.”

The LoveLine Fund enables the Hayworth Cancer Center staff to provide direct assistance to patients receiving cancer treatment with some of their non-medical expenses including gas cards, food cards, transportation, prescription medications, wigs, and other items.

Tickets for the game are available through the High Point Rockers Box Office on Gatewood Ave. as well as through the website at HighPointRockers.com. In addition, tickets are available through the High Point Regional Health Foundation.

About High Point Baseball, Inc.

The High Point Rockers, operated by the non-profit High Point Baseball, play their home games at Truist Point, a state-of-the-art $36 million ballpark which serves as a catalyst to the rejuvenation of downtown High Point. The Rockers have reached the Atlantic League playoffs in three of four years after winning the South Division title in both halves of the 2023 season. The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League, has 10 clubs from New York to North Carolina. For more, visit HighPointRockers.com.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 25-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (www.wakehealth.edu) is a preeminent academic health system based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created through the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s two main components are an integrated clinical system – anchored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, an 885-bed tertiary-care hospital in Winston-Salem – that includes Atrium Health Levine Children’s Brenner Children’s Hospital, five community hospitals, more than 300 primary and specialty care locations and more than 2,700 physicians; and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the academic core of Advocate Health and a recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research that includes Wake Forest Innovations, a commercialization enterprise focused on advancing health care through new medical technologies and biomedical discovery. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist employs more than 22,000 teammates, part of Advocate Health’s 155,000 teammates. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist provided a record-setting $1.2 billion in community benefit in 2023, which includes unreimbursed care, financial assistance, education and research, and community health improvement. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.