The loudest and longest ovation at Thursday night’s Atlanta Braves-Pittsburgh Pirates series finale came before a pitch was even thrown.
It followed an inspirational rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by 10-year-old Lily Anderson of Cumming, Ga.
A 10-year-old singing the National Anthem in front of that many people is incredible enough, but Anderson, who is dealing with neuroblastoma, had undergone a round of chemotheraphy only two hours prior to singing. “I was so, so very proud,” said her mother, Jennifer. “Her dad (Joey) and I were down there and we were so very proud of her because we know how much she’s been through. For her to come all this way, she’s fearless. Just to get out in front of 40,000 people and sing the National Anthem was just beyond our comprehension. We were nervous for her, but she didn’t seem to be nervous at all.”
The Rally foundation and Brian McCann invite you 
join the “McCann 16 Home Run Challenge” by donating $1.60, $16, or $160 for each home run Brian hits in 2011. In 2010, $43,337.55 was raised, and we are hoping to double that number this year with your help. Please take the time to watch a few videos in regards to the Rally foundation. Then click on the link to donate and help hit childhood cancer out of the park!
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ATLANTA — As they were preparing to move their family from Boston to Atlanta, Sara and James Mason were blindsided by the revelation that their 4-year-old son, Welles, had been stricken by acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.
For the next nine months, James spent his weekdays in Atlanta and his weekends in Boston, where doctors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute were treating Welles for this leukemia-like ailment.
Atlanta Braves catcher and five-time All-Star Brian McCann, along with his wife, Ashley, are actively involved in raising awareness and helping to raise funds for the Rally Foundation. Brian and Ashley McCann serve as spokespeople for the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. Click here for more information.
