Cancer can destroy the body but it cannot kill the heart. I wrote that quote and live by it every day.

My dream to play professional baseball started with the Detroit Tigers on March 9, 2009. I have no idea how far I'll go in Major League Baseball but I do know I want to be the one to swing the MLB wood-painted pink bat on a Mother's Day in a real live MLB game.

Why?

Because it should be a real live breast cancer survivor who is also a real live baseball player. It's the right thing to do? Everybody tells me that who meets me on and off the fields of life and baseball.

I agree with them. If Buck O'Neil can go to the plate at 94 years of age for the Kansas City T-Bones then why can't I get to do the same for MLB's breast cancer awareness day?

Age clearly is not a factor. Bless Buck's heart and his determination for getting to live his MLB/MiLB baseball dream before he died of cancer himself a few months after his professional AAA debut. He's one of my own cancer/sports heroes. I'm glad they have a dedicated stadium seat with his name engraved on it. He will live forever in our hearts.

Now who in their right mind throws an 80 mph fastball at a 94 year old man? A real live AAA pitcher who knows that Buck can handle himself as a senior athlete at the plate. That's who! It's about baseball skills. You can either play baseball or you can't.

Age and gender are not the factors in baseball.

Baseball skills are and I proved that in front of the Detroit Tigers management. If you don't have baseball talent you won't get noticed at any professional baseball tryout for any baseball team for a potential contract. I came to show the Tigers my skills and I did not disappoint them. In fact, I actually surprised them that somebody twice the age of all the tryout guys that we older athletes can take them on and succeed.

To all the Buck O'Neils out there. Keep playing to your last breath! It's worth it. You're worth it. We are all worth it