Crusader Baseball to Hold 'Team IMPACT Day'

On Wednesday, April 4, the Holy Cross baseball program will host its first ever "Team IMPACT Day" at Fitton Field during its game versus Marist at 5 p.m. Team IMPACT is a non-profit organization chartered to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses across the northeast by creating unparalleled team based support systems. Core to their model is harnessing the power of teamwork by matching these courageous kids with college athletic teams. Team IMPACT children are drafted onto local college athletic teams and become an official member of the team for the duration of their treatment and beyond.

Holy Cross baseball drafted Sean Rakip, a six year old from Leominster, Mass., through Team IMPACT in October of 2011. Sean was diagnosed with cancer shortly after turning four years old and took his last chemo dose on July 3, 2011 this past summer. He will be on hand during the game versus Marist along with his mother, Christine Kidder. The two will give the team a pregame speech on overcoming obstacles. Sean will also throw out the honorary first pitch.

Read entire story at GoHolyCross.com and learn more about Sean. By Meredith Cook

News coverage: WCTR/Channel 3 (April 5, 2012) (video starts at 6 min. 25 sec.) Six-year-old cancer survivor to throw first pitch at Holy Cross baseball game 

Sentinel & Enterprise (April 15, 2012) Leominster 6-year-old takes the field at Holy Cross