Watch: Anthony Rizzo Cries After Donating $3.5M To Children’s Hospital

Anthony Rizzo did not seem afraid to appear emotional Tuesday during a ceremony commemorating his foundation’s $3.5 million donation to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Anthony Rizzo children’s hospital donation news

The 28-year-old Cubs first baseman was diagnosed with Hodgkins-Lymphoma in April 2008 at the age of 18. Rizzo, a three-time All-Star, underwent chemotherapy treatment for six months before doctors finally told him he was cancer-free.

“This means a lot to me,” a teary-eyed Rizzo said after seeing the waiting room for the first time. “I remember sitting with my mom saying we were going to do this 10 years ago. And you know, this is just a little step in our mission.”

Also part of the ceremony was the unveiling of a new waiting room in the hospital named after Rizzo, who helped lead the Cubs to a World Series victory in 2016.

Rizzo — the 2016 Gold Glove Award winner — was joined by his parents and fiancee at Tuesday’s ceremony.

The Cubs star’s foundation created two endowed funds for cancer patients and their families.

“To be able to give back, to do this type of work, is so much bigger than a World Series and doing anything on a baseball field just because my family’s been through it, there’s so many families going through it,” Rizzo said. “This is as real as it gets in life.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs hits a two-run single in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)