Hope on the diamond: Kenosha cancer survivor throws out first pitch at Simmons Field

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A story of hope on the diamond, as a local teacher was honored for her story of bravery.

The crowd went wild as Heather Sanders, a cancer survivor from Kenosha, went out on the historic Simmons Field in Kenosha Tuesday night to throw the first pitch.

Sanders said it was a big moment for her to be able to get on base, surrounded by friends, family and fans cheering her on at the Kenosha Kingfish Strike Out Cancer Night.

Sanders was just 46 years old when a doctor ordered an endoscopy to look at swallowing problems, and a colonoscopy that revealed she had stage one colon cancer.

Since it was caught so early, she was able to have it removed at City of Hope Cancer Center and is now cancer free.

“It ended up being stage one cancer, so it hadn’t spread anywhere, even to the lymph nodes, and they got it all in surgery. So, it’s really an amazing story,” said Sanders. “I didn’t have to have any other treatment, so my message is to go get your colonoscopy.”

Now, the kindergarten teacher is once again able to do everything she loves and was even able to try her hand at baseball.

Sanders says she’s grateful to have recovered and to be able to share her story.

She says she will continue to advocate and encourage others to get their routine checkups.