NewsHealthy DeJesus hitting charity circuit
Offseason KC resident involved in local, national efforts
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
10/14/09 8:44 PM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Royals left fielder David DeJesus missed the last nine games of the season because of a bout with a virus. Now he's home in Kansas City, recovered and ready to go.Good thing, because DeJesus will be back on the playing field on Sunday at the 2009 Kansas City Ability Day at suburban Grandview, Mo. The third annual event is designed to help disabled persons and their families to stay active and live well.
DeJesus participated with the many youngsters for the first time last year.
"They were playing softball, and I was the pitcher, and they liked seeing if they could hit against me," DeJesus said. "It was fun, seeing the smiles on their faces and just having them run around and having a good time. I think that's the most important thing. Maybe their dream was to be a baseball player and now they're playing against and getting hits off a professional baseball player, so that's just one of those things in their lives that they can say they've done."
The Ability Day, from 1-4 p.m. CT on Sunday at The View community center, features many sports and activities from swimming to gymnastics to rock climbing. The free event is hosted by the City of Grandview and among the sponsors is the National Sports Center for the Disabled. To register, call 816-316-4888 or go to www.nscd.org.
"Having the support of the Kansas City Royals and David DeJesus as the spokesperson for the 2009 event has allowed us to reach many more individuals with disabilities in the community," said Kris Ekeren, NSCD vice president. "David's commitment to the community and people with disabilities is wonderful -- kids and adults look forward to interacting with him each year."
This is not DeJesus' only effort to help others.
He's also active in the fight against Ewing's sarcoma, a little-publicized but malignant and deadly cancer which is found in the bone or soft tissue. The disease recently claimed the life of a DeJesus cousin.
DeJesus' goal is to build a home near a sarcoma treatment center to house victims and their families during their stays.
"Some families don't have enough money to fly out here and rent hotels and cars. This would be a place where they can stay and where they could also get more information about the disease," DeJesus said. "It would take away that one stress in their lives and they wouldn't have to worry about that."
The project will be in memory of his cousin Carlos.
On Saturday, DeJesus plans to meet with Jennifer Steinmann of Ellisville, Mo., a Ewing's sarcoma patient who is an avid tennis and Royals fan. She was diagnosed with sarcoma while in high school where she was a tennis player and will be attending the United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit tournament on the Plaza. DeJesus wants to pick up her spirits as she battles the disease.
Also on his agenda is again joining Royals associates in their annual visit to the City Union Mission in downtown Kansas City on Nov. 11 to serve the annual Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by the team.
"I'm doing that again. I'm going to bring my girlfriend and we're going to help out," he said. "I like giving to people that are really in need. They're in a situation where they need food. It's important to give back. This will be my third year there and I really like doing that."
DeJesus, after seven years with the Royals, is making his presence felt in his charitable pursuits in Kansas City.
"I'm just trying to help out as much as I can with anything in the community," DeJesus said. "Since I'm one of the few guys that live here in the offseason, anything I can do is good for the community and good for the Royals also."
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
