Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Bats Against Cancer for Kapi"olani Children's Miracle Network Champion

Press Release

Yesterday, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) joined a bipartisan, bicameral team of women from the United States Congress in the 7th annual Congressional Women's Softball Game. The Congressional team took on the "Bad News Babes" DC Press Corps team to benefit the Young Survival Coalition, a global organization that supports women under 40 battling cancer. Congress beat the Press with a score of 1-0.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard played for Taylor Tagatac, who was selected earlier this year as Kapi"olani Children's Miracle Network Champion. Taylor, who just finished seventh grade at Ewa Makai Middle School, was first diagnosed with leukemia at age 5 and has been in remission for over four years.

"Taylor is a great inspiration to other children and families in Hawai"i coping with the difficulties of childhood cancer," said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. "I was proud to share Taylor's story of resilience with my teammates and all who came out to support young cancer survivors last night."

"Taylor is very excited to have Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on Team Taylor," said Taylor's mother, Jamy Tagatac, on Wednesday.

Taylor was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at age five. She went into remission for two years after receiving successful rounds of chemotherapy, but relapsed at age eight. Taylor received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from her father, Frank Tagatac, and became the first person in Hawai"i to receive the type of transplant protocol used. She has been in remission since February 2011. In April, Miss Tagatac was announced as the 2015 Children's Miracle Network Champion by Kapi"olani Medical Center for Women & Children.

Since the Congressional Softball Game began in 2009, the event has raised over $700,000 in support of young cancer survivors.

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