Mission Statement
It is the mission of Hits for the Cure to raise funds to provide children battling cancer with the support necessary to follow their dreams despite their circumstances. Monies raised through softball and baseball teams will specifically support established and reputable organizations whose mission statements also support the lives of those fighting childhood cancer. Intentional efforts will be made to support the fight against childhood cancer in the communities where the money has been raised.
What makes us unique?
A personal touch by cancer survivor and founder, Chloe Petersen, helps bring first-hand knowledge of the difficulties involving a childhood life dedicated to battling cancer. Despite her circumstances, she won the battle and was blessed to grow up and pursue her dreams. Now she believes it is time to use her talents to give back to help other children follow her down the same path.
HOW IT WORKS
The goal is to raise money by finding sponsors and helping your team get as many hits as possible.
OUR STORY
Hits for the Cure founder Chloe Petersen was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the age of one when she went in for her one-year check up. For the next few years, she battled stage two kidney cancer and went through life threatening surgeries that were treated with chemotherapy. She was able to survive the cancer and by age six, she was 100% cured thanks to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Ever since she was given her life back, Chloe had a new goal – play Division I softball. Throughout her high school years, she trained and studied hard and by the beginning of her junior year, she was accepted and given a scholarship to play softball at the University of Kansas. She accomplished her dream, but still had two years left until college. Then, a new dream crossed her mind. She wanted to give back to other children battling cancer so they can one day do what they love.
This is when Hits for the Cure was created. At first, it was just a vision with little hopes of accomplishing it, but thanks to her supportive family, coaches, and team, Chloe was able to make this into something bigger than she would have ever dreamed possible. The whole idea behind Hits for the Cure is using the talents you were given to help give back to those battling.
August 2015
THE FIRST YEAR – $21,323
Chloe Petersen enlisted the help of her Irish teammates and coaches to help kick start her charity at Peoria Notre Dame. Hits for the Cure got its start during the 2015 softball and baseball season. Both the softball and baseball Varsity, J.V., and Freshman teams took part in this fundraiser. By the end of the year, the teams raised a total of $21,323.14.
August 2016
THE SECOND YEAR – $15,902
Chloe wanted to expand the charity and reached out to Peoria Notre Dame rival Metamora softball to take part in the fundraiser. The two teams got together for a Hits for the Cure Charity Game and had fun competing on the field and working together off the field to raise money for childhood cancer research. Both teams also went to OSF Children’s Hospital in Peoria, Illinois to tour the facilities and play with the children battling cancer. What really “hit home” was seeing where the money they were raising was going towards. At the end of the season Metamora and Peoria Notre Dame both experienced tremendous success and in total raised around $20,000.
August 2017
THE THIRD YEAR – $25,455
Hits for the Cure is on the rise and continuing to expand throughout Central Illinois. So far Chloe has recruited Peoria Notre Dame, Metamora, Dunlap, Morton, Farmington, and IVC to take part in Hits for the Cure’s third year! We are excited to see what drive these teams will have and are confident in bringing in another season of success. On April 29, Hits for the Cure is excited to announce its enormous event of the season that will take place at the Louisville Slugger Complex. All the teams participating this year will be playing along with the addition of a little extra competition from outside teams. Keep watching the “Latest News” and Hits for the Cure Facebook page for more information on what’s to come!
April 2018
THE FOURTH YEAR – $20,766
Hits for the Cure now has 13 teams participating in the season long fundraiser: PND, Metamora, Morton, Dunlap, Farmington, IVC, Canton, Peoria Christian, Brimfield, Bloomington Central Catholic, QND, Alton Marquette, and Marengo. In addition, we have the University of Illinois participating! This year should be the breakthrough year for HFC with the annual event being April 27-28.
July 2019
THE FIFTH YEAR – $47,658
Hits for the Cure Hit Childhood Cancer out of the park this year with the most money raised up to date! We hosted our 3rd annual event at Louisville Slugger Complex where 11 teams came together to raise money and celebrate the hard work they put in to fundraise for children with childhood cancer: Peoria Notre Dame, Quincy Notre Dame, Alton Marquette, IVC, Morton, Lewistown, Sterling, Farmington, Peoria Christian, Brimfield, and Bloomington Central Catholic. Girls and boys who battle with cancer joined the teams as bat girls and boys for an experience unlike any other!
Over $140,101 raised by 19 teams and we are still hitting back!
In the News
Knocking Cancer Out of the Park
When the Marquette Catholic softball team was playing Peoria Notre Dame at the Hits for the Cure fundraising event on April 26 at the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria, the players got to meet Karly, a 10-year-old girl from Pekin who has been fighting cancer since [...]
PETE HAYES: Learning lessons from Karly
When it comes to on-field lessons, Marquette Catholic High softball coach Dan Wiedman is somewhat of a professor. Evidently, the Explorers players know a thing or two about what’s important off the field as well. Karly Rathbun, a 10-year old battling cancer, was a good [...]
Winding up for Hits for the Cure
PEORIA — Hits for the Cure provides Emma Crowley with a glimpse into her future. The Notre Dame junior aspires one day to be a pediatric oncologist, helping research and treat children with cancer. Crowley gets a first-hand interaction with those young cancer patients during [...]
Hits for the Cure softball event runs Friday and Saturday
Hits for the Cure softball event runs Friday and Saturday The third year of the Hits for the Cure softball event returns to the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex on Friday and Saturday. Eleven teams from around the state, including Journal Star-area squads Notre Dame, Illinois [...]
Interview with 2017 Bat Winner, Quinn Pallardy
Quinn Pallardy is a current Junior at Peoria Notre Dame High School and the program's top fundraiser for Hits for the Cure last season. Her enormous heart along with her incredible work ethic shined through throughout the entire softball season. Along with awarding her a [...]
OSF Children’s Hospital Visit
We absolutely loved going to visit the amazing children at OSF Children's Hospital! Check out our photo gallery & flickr to see more awesome photos and memories from that special day!
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