Witt Jr. hosts youth camp in support of Royals superfan with ALS

KANSAS CITY -- Chants of “BOB-BY, BOB-BY” filled the football field at Bishop Miege High School on Thursday morning, with about 400 kids shouting Bobby Witt Jr.’s name as he walked out to greet the attendees of his first youth baseball camp.

The Royals’ superstar shortstop is no stranger to the sound of his name filling ballparks while fans stand on their feet. Thursday was a different experience.

“There were some tears that came to my eyes,” Witt said. “Not too long ago, I was in their shoes. Now, we’re here with this opportunity. It’s truly just a blessing and honor to be able to do this.”

Now that he calls Kansas City home and will for the foreseeable future after the contract extension he signed this past offseason, Witt has been seeking opportunities to get involved in the community and meet kids and families throughout the area.

At the top of the list of things he wanted to do was put together a youth baseball camp. Witt spent his childhood going to camps like Thursday’s, and he was always the one who was dressed in his full baseball uniform eager to compete.

“I was always a shy kid, but camps like that made me want to go out and be around other kids, get to know other people, because that’s where I felt comfortable,” Witt said. “I just remember it being summer, out of school, being able to play sports all day. So it’s cool to be able to do this.”

Donning a bright blue bucket hat that was a Royals ballpark giveaway this week, Witt interacted with all age groups on Thursday. He pitched to some and played catch with others. He was in the middle of the camp-wide games they played at the end and then presented awards that included four Campers of the Day, Hungriest Camper and Camp MVP.

But as Witt noted during his introductory message to the campers, Thursday was not just about playing baseball. That’s because 100% of the proceeds from registration fees went to Answering the Call (ATC), a non-profit organization that supports first responders after severe injury or illness, on behalf of Sarah Nauser, a retired police officer battling ALS and one of the Royals’ biggest fans.

Making sure the camp proceeds went to a good cause instead of profiting off it himself was as important to Witt as putting together the camp. With CommunityAmerica Credit Union sponsoring and paying for ProCamps to run the event, every single dollar that the camp raised through registration fees went to ATC and Sarah’s Soldiers.

When Nauser was told she would be the beneficiary, she was the one with tears in her eyes.

“He could have picked any cause,” Nauser said. “But Bobby made it a point that he wanted to help me out. People don’t understand how much this disease costs. And there are such few resources. So something like this, to give me financial reassurance that I can keep on fighting and that I don’t have to stress, is huge. It takes so much relief off my shoulders, and for Bobby to be a part of it, is just so special to me.”

ALS has forced Nauser into retirement and into a wheelchair with a machine that helps her breathe. What it hasn’t taken is her passion, nor her positive attitude in the face of adversity. The incurable disease has given her purpose -- to raise awareness of the impact that ALS has on individuals and families, and to provide resources and support to others going through the same fight.

“What keeps me so happy is the life I’ve been able to live, and I get to live that life because of the generosity of others,” Nauser said. “So having financial reassurance can put that stress at bay [allows] me to keep focused on my fight.”

Nauser has been a Royals fan her whole life. Now, she finds the Royals supporting her even more. George Brett, who made a quick appearance Thursday to see Nauser, is a friend. Royals jerseys signed by players hang in her home.

Witt is often the first one to say hi when she makes it out to the ballpark.

“With how big of a fan she is for us, we’re even bigger fans of hers and how she’s fighting,” Witt said. “We were trying to figure out what was going to be my foundation, but giving back to her and then what Answering the Call does is something that’s close to me and really special.”

On Thursday, Witt and CommunityAmerica presented Nauser with a $45,000 check, with camp participants cheering in the background.

Witt hopes it’s just the start.

“She’s just shown us that she’s always fighting,” Witt said. “And we’ve got to keep fighting to do what we’re doing because what she’s going through is a lot harder. You can never take a day for granted.

“We can see where this goes and grow from there. I definitely want to be involved with the city, because I’m going to be here for a while. I want to give back as much as I can.”