1,000 Cancer Survivors Light Up Rochester Ballpark

When Mary Knapp stepped onto the field at ESL Ballpark Friday night, she wasn't alone. More than 1,000 cancer survivors stood beside her, turning the Rochester Red Wings' home into a beacon of hope painted entirely in yellow.

The annual Survivors Night brought together families touched by cancer for a powerful show of solidarity. Survivors threw ceremonial first pitches and rallied support for cancer research, creating what many described as one big family united by shared experience.

"It's a way to support everyone who has gone through what I have gone through and what my son is going through right now," Knapp said. "We need to support each other and to know how effective it is just to know that we're all going through the same thing."

The celebration arrived alongside major news for the region's cancer fighting efforts. Wilmot Cancer Institute and West Herr Auto Group announced a multi-year partnership designed to expand community fundraising and research support.

The collaboration aims to grow signature events like Wilmot Warrior Weekend, inspired by West Herr's success supporting Buffalo's Ride for Roswell. That event has raised nearly $100 million for cancer research over 32 years.

"This partnership is about much more than a sponsorship," said Dr. Jonathan Friedberg, director of Wilmot Cancer Institute. "It's about a shared belief that when a community comes together around a common purpose, incredible things can happen."

West Herr CEO Scott Bieler emphasized the partnership's human focus. "Our goal isn't to simply sponsor an event," he said. "Our goal is to help grow, inspire more people to get involved, create an even greater impact for patients and families throughout this region."

The Ripple Effect

Angela Uttaro, a nine-year cancer survivor and Warrior Weekend team captain, knows firsthand how community support transforms the cancer journey. She called the partnership a meaningful way to bring people together while funding critical research.

The Wilmot Warrior Weekend happens September 19 and 20, inviting hundreds to walk or bike in support of cancer research. Events like these create spaces where survivors find strength in numbers and families discover they're not facing the fight alone.

Every dollar raised flows directly into research that could unlock tomorrow's treatments. Every person who shows up reminds someone in treatment that an entire community stands behind them.

Together, Rochester is proving that hope grows stronger when shared.