Twirling to Fight Cancer with John "Baton" Mitchell

The story began in 2011 when John's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and when he found out, he was filled with so much emotion. He felt alone, scared and most of all helpless because he didn't know how to help his mother. He wanted everyone to care and learn about what he was experiencing with her and her struggle to overcome this disease.

He quickly realized that he wasn't the only child in the world facing breast cancer with their mother nor the possibility that he could lose her. At his mother’s bedside, he started hearing all these stories of courage from the doctors, nurses, and later the families of the patients he met who also lived in fear of losing someone very close to them. The activism light had officially become lit.

Growing up, John's mother was a baton twirler. Twirling was a passion that connected both of them. He has had a very extensive career twirling that has landed him in front of national audiences. With his entertainment experiences, he wanted to elevate the sport and infuse baton twirling into building awareness around what it is to be a cancer survivor. Twirling to Fight Cancer was created with love and respect for those who are survivors and stood on the battlefield with their loved ones. John wanted to make an impact and give the community of baton twirlers that they belong to a mission. He wanted to serve the sport and give it a purpose through entertainment, education, and enlightenment.

John believes that this movement not only promotes the sport but most importantly helps to save lives and puts smiles on the faces of those who are fighting the fight and those who are helping them in the battle. John has been blessed with the opportunity and drive to create this wonderful foundation. It is a celebration for the women and men that are alive and still fighting strong, as well as a commemoration for those who are no longer with us. Twirling to Fight Cancer strengthens us in spirit. Twirlers, respect the fight, motivate to be more and open their hearts to love so the cancer war can be won.​ John's goal was to care enough to make a difference and be a real agent of change. He is still marching forward as seen with our T2FC Logo and twirling his way to be the change he wishes to see.