Big Slick Returns for 16th Year, raising millions for life-saving pediatric cancer research
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A-listers are once again bringing heart and humor back home.
The 16th annual “Big Slick Celebrity Weekend” kicked off in Kansas City, uniting comedy, competition, and cause – all to pediatric cancer research at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Since its start in 2010, Big Slick has raised a significant amount of funds for treatment and diagnosis efforts at the hospital, according to President and CEO Alejandro Quiroga.
“For the past 16 years, we have raised $25 million,” Quiroga said. “We have changed how to treat and diagnose cancer care in pediatrics in the world.”
The annual weekend, which began as a poker tournament, now features a celebrity softball game at Kauffman Stadium, and a star-studded party and variety show at the T-Mobile Center.
Big Slick is spearheaded by Kansas City natives and big screen stars Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, David Koechner, Eric Stonestreet, and Heidi Gardner, who bring along a rotating crew of celebrity friends each year.
Sudeikis reflected on the ripple effect of the funds raised.
“The people that have been helped by it – that $25 million – has gone to we may never meet them, Sudeikis said. “We want to help them anyway, because maybe they’ll help someone they never meet. And the more that that happens and that ripples out, then goodness gracious, who knows what happens.”
Stonestreet called Children’s Mercy a local treasure.
“It’s the jewel of the city. So when somebody breaks a bone and you’re a kid, it’s like, go there,” Stonestreet said. “While we’re here for cancer, we’re also here for the good of the hospital and the better of the hospital as a whole.”.
And of course, it wouldn’t be Big Slick without a little comedy. The Saturday night Party & Show at T-Mobile Center will feature live entertainment and a charity auction, where one item in particular caught the attention of co-host Heidi Gardner.
“There’s really good options. I was just telling Paul I want to bid on his Anaconda premiere,” Gardner said.
Tickets are still available for the Saturday night event at T-Mobile Center. Proceeds from the weekend go directly toward cancer research and clinical care at Children’s Mercy – helping doctors continue to deliver hope, and healing to kids across the region and around the world.
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