Atlanta Braves Pitcher Tim Hudson Named Hutch Award Winner

From the official press release:

Tim Hudson, starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, will receive the 46th annual Hutch Award®. The award is given each year to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of baseball great Fred Hutchinson, both on and off the field.

Hudson said he is honored to win the Hutch Award and anticipates his upcoming visit to Seattle and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, founded by Fred's brother Bill, a prominent Seattle surgeon, after Fred died of cancer at age 45.  

"My wife Kim and I have seen firsthand the devastation that a cancer diagnosis can have on a family," Hudson said. "We intend to do all that we can to help to find a cure."

On and off the field, Hudson has a heart for children living with a life-altering or terminal disease. The Hudson Family Foundation, launched in 2009 by Hudson and his wife, helps kids and their families ease the financial burdens of critical illnesses. The Hudsons support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helping fulfill the wishes of critically ill children by hosting their visits to Atlanta's Turner Field and chairing major fundraisers. In addition, the Hudsons partner with The Moyer Foundation, founded by major league pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen, to expand the reach of Camp Erin, a bereavement camp for children age 6-17 who have experienced the death of a loved one.

To be honest I've never heard of this award until now, but it's good to see the great work that Hudson and his wife do recognized on a national scale.