St. Joseph Hospital Hosts 2nd Annual Cancer Survivors Wiffleball Game

Nashua, NH - Holman Stadium in Nashua was filled with passion, resilience, and community spirit on June 25th as the 2nd Annual St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Survivors Wiffleball Game took place in partnership with the Nashua Silver Knights. This remarkable event is held each year to raise awareness for National Cancer Survivor Month while honoring the strength and courage of cancer survivors.

This year’s game pitted a team of 20 cancer survivors named Not Fast, Just Furious, against a team of St. Joseph Hospital employees named Scared Hitless. Both teams showcased their unwavering determination, competing in nearly 90-degree heat for seven intense innings. Each team had a wide selection of “bats” at their disposal including a tennis racket, field hockey stick, a charcuterie board, a giant inflatable bat, a broom, and yes… a wiffleball bat. After a thrilling back and forth battle, Team Not Fast, Just Furious, eager to redeem themselves following last year's one-run loss, emerged victorious, by a final score of 8-5.

“This game is not only a testament to the resilience of cancer survivors but also a celebration of their triumphs” shared Tim McMahon, Director of Marketing at St. Joseph Hospital and one of the event organizers. “We are proud to partner with the Silver Knights each year to witness the power of our staff and community coming together to honor these survivors”.

Kelly Rawnsley, a standout player from the survivors’ team, was named the Player of the Game. While she displayed some exceptional wiffleball skills, she bravely shared her personal, and extremely relatable cancer survivorship story as well.

"My story started 6 years ago, at the age of 46. On March 9th, 2017, I heard the words ‘you have cancer’. I remember dropping to my knees, sobbing. A million things started running through my head. How am I going to tell my family? Did they catch it in time? Am I going to need chemo, radiation, surgery? Am I going to die?" Rawnsley describes herself as one of the “lucky ones” whose cancer was discovered just in time. According to her Oncologist, “if she had been just a month later in getting her mammogram, they would be having a very different conversation”. Rawnsley also emphasized the importance of support during her journey, adding, "I was surrounded by more support than I knew what to do with. I was not alone. My fight was their fight."

The 2nd Annual St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Survivors Wiffleball Game was a resounding success, both in terms of raising awareness for National Cancer Survivor Week and fostering a sense of unity among survivors and healthcare professionals. Dr. Sabine Manoli, a general surgeon in the St. Joseph Hospital Breast Care Center and player on Team Not Fast, Just Furious added “Today’s game served as a powerful reminder that, together, we can overcome any challenge and underscores the commitment of the St. Joseph Hospital to provide exceptional care and support for all patients.”