D-backs launch Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope to support cancer research

Arizona Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall announced the launch of the Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope during the team’s 14th annual “Evening on the Diamond” fundraiser Thursday night.

Nicole, who is married to D-backs executive vice president and general manager Mike Hazen, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in July 2020, one of the deadliest cancers in the world, according to the team’s press release. She is getting treatment with Dr. Nader Sanai and Dr. Ekokobe Fonkem at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

The D-backs started this project to raise money for the facility’s cutting-edge research and clinical trials to enhance treatment and rapid identification of brain cancer.

On Thursday, Hall called this “our most important project yet.” While introducing the fund, he said that the goal was to raise $1 million by the end of the night.

The Diamondbacks ownership group of Ken Kendrick, Mike Chipman and Jeff Royer started with a $250,000 donation. The league office and 29 other teams put down a similar gift, and the D-backs raised $1.5 million by the end of the event.

“We want to help out Nicole, but Nicole is thinking about everybody else that follows her after being diagnosed with this disease,” Hall said in a video shared in the press release. “We’re trying to help future individuals who unfortunately would experience the same diagnosis.”

Mike Hazen took a physical leave of absence in June to spend more time with his wife and four sons. Per the press release, the Hazen family is dedicated to finding answers for Nicole and those who also face the same diagnosis.

Those interested in donating to the fund can do so on its website.

To learn more about the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, visit its website.

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