On May 12, Mother’s Day, the Dodgers hosted one of 30 MLB Honorary Bat Girls. Sara Aguilera of Coto de Caza was chosen by a panel of celebrity judges who selected the honorary bat girls for each MLB club. The panel included Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp who greeted Sara in front of the dugout with a hug and congratulations.

Nominated by her parents, Sara, wife of John and mother of two boys, Jaden, 7 and Jordan, 5, found a lump in her right breast on April 30, 2012. She had a biopsy a week later and, received the diagnosis of stage 2 colloid carcinoma on May 8. She underwent a double mastectomy on June 8 and began her five-year-course of tamoxifen in July 2012.

Sara’s first reconstructive surgery was October 17 and she requires two more surgeries in the near future.

Less than one year since discovering her lump, Sara has founded a breast cancer awareness organization promoting self-examination, “Feel Yourself Up.” Through this organization, she plans to raise awareness about the importance of early detection through self-examination, and to raise money for those needing help with expenses of day-to-day life while fighting breast cancer.

Sara’s story of inspiration and strength embodies the message of hope behind “going to bat against breast cancer.”