Breast Cancer Survivors and Fighters honored at #PinkOut at Wrigley Field

Rosemont's Kristin Root joined more than two dozen breast cancer survivors and fighters from across Illinois to help #PinkOut Wrigley Field this Mother's Day as part of Advocate Health Care and the Chicago Cubs' efforts to raise awareness for a disease that one in eight women develop during their lifetime.

Kristin was honored as the Cubs' Honorary Bat Girl and was joined by her husband Jon and her parents for the special day. She was diagnosed with breast cancer just two weeks before her 36th birthday as she was poised to start IVF. Her OBGYN found a lump during a routine visit, she had a mammogram and while the lump turning out to be nothing, her mammogram showed something else and she was later diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kristin along with the other honored guests, were joined by their families, as well as breast health navigators and surgeons, and spent an unforgettable day at the ballpark, taking part in once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, including holding a giant pink ribbon flag in the outfield, throwing a ceremonial first pitch, singing the national anthem, meeting Cubs players as they took the field at each position and leading the 7th inning stretch. Kristin's physicians Dr. Heidi Memmel and Dr. Nila Alsheik, Co-Medical Directors of the Caldwell Breast Center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital also joined in the special day.

"Mother's Day is the perfect day for all the breast cancer survivors and their moms to celebrate, and for everyone to talk about and be sure they know their family's health and cancer history," said Dr. Heidi Memmel. "The giant pink ribbon out on the field is a great reminder that you should talk to your mother, your grandmother, your sister about taking care of their health and being sure they get their annual screening mammogram."

Before the game, Advocate hosted an event at The Park at Wrigley during which fans attending the game wrote messages on a pink "brick" wall to honor those in their life affected by breast cancer.