Lehigh Valley IronPigs Host Cancer Survivors Night at Coca-Cola Park

The evening of June 16, 2026, was chock full of fly balls, two-run homers, perfect steals and strikeouts. In the end, after a ninth-inning rally, the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox – affectionately known as the Woosox – walked away with a 5-3 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

The real winners, however, were those who attended the game at Coca-Cola Park for Cancer Survivors Night, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, part of Jefferson Health, in conjunction with the IronPigs. Specialists from the Cancer Institute, including Suresh Nair, MD, Physician in Chief; Bradley Lash, MD, Chief, Hematology-Medical Oncology; and Lori Alfonse, DO, Deputy Physician in Chief, were present and even helped throw the first pitch.

"We are proud to team up with the IronPigs to fight a disease that impacts countless community members," Dr. Nair says. "Cancer Survivors Night is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when a community comes together with purpose. Every name represented, every dollar raised and every fan in the stands reflect hope and strength for those battling cancer."

One of the survivors, Kim Fiorentino, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and is now cancer-free, was among the attendees and called the evening, “A gathering of joy to celebrate so many moments of perseverance and recovery.”

“The event took place almost exactly one year after my surgery for bilateral breast cancer tumors,” Fiorentino says. “I felt blessed to be there, but the true accolades are for my faith, my family and the great team of doctors and medical professionals who contributed to my wellness and healing.”

A high point in the night came during the fifth inning, when fans stood up and recognized friends, family, loved ones and those who have cancer or who passed away from cancer. The comaraderie and sense of community that filled the stadium gives hope to all those present and is why the Cancer Institute continues this valuable tradition reach year.

While a survivor is someone who continues to function after overcoming a life-threatening disease, a cancer survivor continues functioning from the time of diagnosis until the end of life. It underscores the fact that survivorship is a significant phase of cancer care, not just an outcome. Today, there are an estimated 18.6 million cancer survivors in the United States.

 “Survivorship care is not a treatment summary handed to a patient at the end of therapy,” Dr. Nair says. “It involves coordinated care that addresses physical health, psychosocial well-being, health promotion, chronic disease management and surveillance for recurrence or secondary conditions.” 

“That’s why events like this are important,” he says. “Because our patients are survivors.”