NDSA Knock Cancer Out of the Ballpark
By Kerry Hutton ’09, Hannah Storm Journalism Intern

While researchers around the world work towards a cure for cancer, Notre Dame is doing its part by promoting cancer education and early detection. The Notre Dame Senior Alumni (NDSA) are spearheading a program that will assist the Notre Dame family in the fight against cancer.

Prostate Awareness Cancer Education (PACE) is an NDSA initiative that began in 2005 with the goal of creating awareness about prostate cancer and educating Notre Dame club members in an effort to save lives. In its early stages, PACE functioned as a “how-to” group, calling upon various ND clubs to hold educational seminars on cancer awareness for local club members and the communities they serve. While the program saw success in areas such as North Florida, where the local club held seminars that focused on prostate, breast, and skin cancer, program coordinator and prostate cancer survivor Paul Scagliarini ’60 was looking for a way to breathe new life into the mission.

In 2008, Scagliarini was introduced to Bat for the Cure, a national non-profit prostate cancer organization that offered a fresh venue for reaching a broader audience—fans at 70 minor league baseball parks. Bat for the Cure uses minor league parks throughout the country as its venue for spreading the message about prostate cancer awareness and early diagnosis.

The involvement of many Notre Dame clubs with their local baseball teams makes it easy for ND clubs to participate. In 2008, Notre Dame clubs provided volunteers for 25 Bat for the Cure nights at different ballparks across the country.

Scagliarini is thrilled with the new dynamic that Bat for the Cure brought to PACE in 2008, but his vision does not stop there. “I want the level of involvement to grow exponentially bigger and bigger every year,” he says. “Our goal is to provide Notre Dame volunteers at 50 Bat for the Cure games in 2009.”

Scagliarini also hopes that the NDSA will be able to expand its mission by educating the public on other types of cancer. Already the group has made strides in this area with the development of About Breast Cancer, also known as ABC. ABC, which was started by the Alumni Association in 2000, came under the direction of the NDSA this year. Scagliarini said he hopes that ABC, which uses seminars, talks, and luncheons to educate attendees about breast cancer, will flourish in the coming years.

“We seek to inform as many people as we can,” Scagliarini explains. “An informed person can get tested, and the end result is saving lives.”

If your club has an opportunity in 2009 for a Bat for the Cure game, pick up a bat and help ND knock cancer out of the park. For more information on PACE and the NDSA’s efforts to promote cancer education, visit www.ndsenioralumni.org.