Strikeout Cancer 2025

Children battling cancer – one of the most heart-wrenching circumstances that anyone can imagine – is what drives Notre Dame Softball to go beyond the playing field to a place where we can make a lasting impact.

Since 2011, Our program has hosted our Strikeout Cancer weekend, raising funds to assist local families with a child battling this terrible disease. With a trivia night, a silent auction, a homerun derby, as well as other promotions, we strive to raise funds to support the children and families and make their days a little brighter.

Whether it’s paying for lodging for a family while their child gets chemotherapy, sending children on “Wish” trips, purchasing a therapy dog for a child, or funding a playroom at Beacon Children’s Hospital, the funds are used to directly impact the children and their families in a real, tangible way.

In 2010, when Tatum, the daughter of our head coach, Deanna Gumpf, was diagnosed with leukemia, our team was able to see first-hand how chemotherapy, radiation, and a myriad of medications can take their toll on a child. They resolved to try to help not only their coach’s family but also the families of as many children with cancer as they could. Thus, Strikeout Cancer was born. Taking the field with uniforms embellished with orange (the official color of leukemia awareness), we have pledged to help children fight and – like Tatum – win their battle with cancer!

Proceeds from these events will be donated to the Harper Cancer Research Institute and the Samantha Hickey Memorial Foundation.

Please email Kris Ganeff at kmcclear@nd.edu to register for a table.

• NAVY SPONSOR - A gift of $100 means your name / company will be posted at the Trivia Night event on the sponsorship board.

• ORANGE SPONSOR - A gift of $300 means your name / company will be posted at the Trivia Night event on the sponsorship board as well as at each individual table.

• GOLD SPONSOR - A gift of $500 means your name /company will be posted at the Trivia Night event on the sponsorship board, at each trivia table, in our softball newsletter and announced publicly at Trivia Night.

$5 of every gift will also go to the Harper Cancer Research Institute at the University of Notre Dame. The remainder of the gift will go to the Samantha Hickey Memorial Foundation.