Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Partners with Dragons to Present "Home Run for Life" Program

Dayton, Ohio -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons will host 13-year-old Nathan Lefeld during the unique "Home Run for Life" program on Wednesday, May 25, at 7:00 p.m. when the Dayton Dragons take on the Lake County Captains at Fifth Third Field. 

The Anthem Home Run for Life program provides children in the Dayton region who are battling serious medical conditions with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each honoree gets to take a lap around the bases at Fifth Third Field during a sold-out Dragons home game while the crowd cheers them on.

Nathan's Story

In March 2014, Nathan Lefeld's mother, Anita, noticed he was having a hard time getting over the flu bug. He always seemed exhausted and had started drinking a lot of water. She knew it wasn't normal for Nathan to always be thirsty, so she feared something was wrong.

Soon after, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which is a disease that causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin that is needed to survive. Nathan and his parents were overwhelmed with information. They had to learn how to give insulin injections, count carbohydrates, and monitor Nathan's blood sugar.

Although Type 1 Diabetes in children requires consistent care, advances in blood sugar monitoring and insulin delivery have dramatically improved and simplified the daily management of this condition for Nathan and other children like him.

Even with all of the advances, it can still be a challenge for Nathan. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have to deal with it. It's really hard to constantly monitor my food, especially at events like cookouts or parties, because I'm tempted to keep eating," Nathan said. "But, I like being able to pay it forward and help other kids at school that are newly diagnosed, to let them know they will make it through this!"   

Nathan is now 13 years old and a seventh grader at Tri-County North. Nathan likes science, but his passion is playing soccer. "My favorite sports team is the Columbus Crew, and I hope to be a professional soccer player one day," Nathan said.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Nathan's life, including his parents Tony and Anita, Dr. Pfeifer, and his entire medical team. Please join us in cheering on Nathan as he completes his Home Run for Life at Fifth Third Field on May 25.

More Information:  The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at [email protected], or on the web at daytondragons.com.