CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Los Angeles Dodgers' shortstop Chris Taylor doesn't get home too often with his MLB schedule and recently a newborn child, but when he does, his impact is felt by many in Hampton Roads.
The former baseball star both at Cox High School and then at UVA returned home this week to help support a cause near and dear to his heart. Taylor lost a childhood friend to cancer inspiring him to start the CT3 Foundation, which supports struggling families. Taylor's foundation partnered with the Roc Solid Foundation and CHKD in Chesapeake over the weekend to support families with children diagnosed with pediatric cancer.
"I love coming back to my hometown in Virginia Beach and being able to help out Roc Solid Foundation here. I think it's more impactful to see it in person and actually meet some kids and families that are going through a hard time," Taylor said.
The Roc Solid foundation is a nonprofit that builds hope for families fighting cancer. They do so through packing hospital Ready Bags for families upon diagnosis filled with necessities the families will need as they support their child in the hospital.
"Something as small as a backpack with supplies for them and their families while they're in the hospital, it can really go a long way." said Taylor.
From basic toiletries, to tablets and headphones, to mindless card games like Uno, a backpack may seem trivial but it takes some stress off these families during one of the darkest times. These bags go to every locally-diagnosed family (through our partnerships with CHKD and Portsmouth Naval), along with kids at more than 130 children's hospitals nationwide.
The experience hit closer for Taylor this time around, who recently welcomed his first child with his wife.
"You see the parents with their kids and I can relate a little bit more now that I have a son of my own. He's only two months but seeing the reaction they have and what they've been through I can't even imagine my son going through something like that so it does mean a little bit more now."
Taylor will also be hosting a reception at New Realm Brewing in Virginia Beach on Thursday. The event is open to the public with games, inflatables, raffles, etc., and all proceeds go to Roc Solid and CHKD.