NorthBay Cancer Center patients Geraldine Dolan and Curt Joedeman were feted at Genentech’s Strike Out Cancer event at the River Cats in Sacramento.

It was a great “pink” turnout for Genentech’s Strike Out Cancer event, held on June 28 at a Sacramento River Cats game. Hundreds of NorthBay Healthcare employees, friends, family members and cancer patients wore pink in a show of support for Genentech’s fund raising venture that will benefit the NorthBay Cancer Center.

Genentech has promised to donate $100 for every strike out
a River Cats pitcher throws at a home game this season, up to $25,000. The June game was the official kick off of the fund raising promise.

More than 200 NorthBay supporters, wearing pink T-shirts, made a colorful statement at the ballpark. Three patients who received Genentech cancer-fighting drugs, and who had been treated by NorthBay, were featured during a special pre-game video. The patients were also invited to come down to the field before the game started and one, Curt Joedeman, tossed out the first pitch. They then enjoyed the ball game from private box seats, as guests of Genentech and the River Cats.

Several Genentech employees were on hand to greet the patients when they made their way up to the suite. “Thank you for making the drugs that saved my life,” Curt told Scott Zimmerman, Genentech’s director of business operations. “I come from a small town, and Vacaville may be considered a small town, but it’s proof you don’t need a big city to do great things.”