June 03--Some Cubs players switched out their baseball uniforms for aprons after their win over the Dodgers on Thursday.
The change was for Anthony Rizzo's fourth annual Cook-Off For Cancer fundraiser, where players served guests food from 17 Chicago restaurants.
Although players are used to the competition on the field, the competition in the kitchen was unfamiliar.
"At home, (my bartending skills are) pretty good, but when you got people demanding things, it's a little crazy," said pitcher Jon Lester, who was on bartending duty for the night. "I'm not used to getting yelled at like this. ... We'll have fun with it."
Players and restaurants competed against each other as guests voted for their favorite food by tipping their Cubs server. The money earned from the event will benefit pediatric cancer research and support children and their families battling the disease.
The annual event is important to Rizzo, who himself battled with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008. He started the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation in 2012 and has visited many different children in area hospitals during his time in Chicago. The first baseman said he hopes to raise a millions dollars by the end of the year.
While Rizzo has high aspirations for what his foundation can accomplish, Lester is proud of what his teammate has accomplished in a short time.
"The last thing on my mind when I was 24 was starting a foundation, a charity," Lester said. "That shows you where his head is at and what he wanted to do. ... It's kind of nice to see him come full circle and get to this point."
Lester, who himself battled anaplastic large cell lymphoma in 2006, was one of the people who helped Rizzo when he battled with his illness. The support is something that Rizzo hopes he gives to the children and families that he helps with his hospital visits and fundraisers.
"If you can help if any way, shape or form, just a little bit can go a long way," Rizzo said. "Jon has no idea how much he helped me, but his little bit encouraged me to do all this."
mdwojak@tribpub.com
