Atlanta Braves players spend time with cancer patients

Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Strider and Tyler Matzek took time to spend with cancer and blood disorder patients and staff at Scottish Rite Hospital.

ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta had some very special visitors last week. Spencer Strider and Tyler Matzek of the Atlanta Braves took the time to chat with cancer and blood disorder patients and staff at Scottish Rite Hospital.

Braves mascot Blooper and the players’ wives also joined in the fun, bringing smiles, laughter and plenty of gifts to the young fans.

Atlanta Braves Tyler Matzek (left), Blooper (center) and Spencer Strider spend time with patients and staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although childhood cancer is rare compared to cancers typically diagnosed in adults, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease in this age group.

Approximately 15,000 children and adolescents under age 20 and more than 21,000 young adults ages 20 to 30 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States.

According to the CDC, mortality rates among children from birth to age 14 have fallen by nearly 70% over the past 40 years.