( CNN ) -- It might be hard to believe , but as difficult as cancer was , in some ways it was good for me . Do n't get me wrong , I would n't wish it on anyone . Even the word `` cancer '' brings back the nausea and pain , the fear I felt and the heartbreak I saw in my parents ' faces . The smells that fill hospitals and the constant tired feeling that comes with treatment are also permanently stuck in my memory . But here 's the thing : The disease changed the path of my life in some ways that have been really great . For one , going home after my diagnosis for treatment at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle brought me even closer to my parents . I always knew they 'd be there for me , but I understood their love in a whole new way once I saw how they cared for me during treatment . When I was called up by the Red Sox I thought I 'd always be the one who would be taking care of them , but cancer turned the tables for a bit . They were amazing in my recovery , and we 're closer today than perhaps we would have been had I not gotten sick . When I recovered , the Red Sox told me I was going to head to Greenville , South Carolina , to get back in major league shape . Honestly , I was n't happy . Once you make the majors it 's never a great feeling to go back to the minors -- no matter what the circumstances . But I met an amazing young woman named Farrah Johnson there , and today she is my wife and ( the best ) mom to our son , Hudson . Who knows if I would have met her -- the love of my life -- if I had not had cancer ? When I hit the five-year cancer-free mark in 2011 , two things happened : Farrah gave birth to our son and my dad was diagnosed with cancer . Thankfully , Dad is doing fine , but these life events caused me to think about how I should be giving back . I could n't help thinking of how I would feel if Hudson had to go through what I or my dad had to deal with fighting cancer . I had visited hospitals on Red Sox trips and met a number of kids battling cancer . I knew from speaking with them that my experience mattered to these kids and that the words of encouragement helped . Together with Farrah , we decided pediatric cancer research would be our cause and our mantra would be never quit . NVRQT , or `` Never Quit , '' is both a campaign that supports kids in the fight against cancer and funds much needed research . NVRQT is embossed on baseballs that can be signed , played with and given to a boy or girl battling cancer . They send the message to stick with it and get better because there are a whole bunch of people waiting for them to get back onto the field . The funds we raise support the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation . In addition to the balls , we 're encouraging people to hold NVRQT games in their community to support the children in their area and raise funds for research . As I travel the country for away games , I meet kids fighting cancer in almost every city . They visit the ballpark , and I invite them onto the field so we can chat and then watch the game . I hope the little things I 'm doing really make a difference to the kids in the battle today and the big fundraising events we 're holding will minimize or cure pediatric cancer for the kids tomorrow . I 'm proud to do my part to make a difference , and I know I have cancer to thank for my inspiration . To learn more visit www.NVRQT.org .
Lester won Game two of the World Series for the Boston Red Sox after battling cancer . Jon Lester and his wife have started a nonprofit to raise money for pediatric cancer research . The organization is called the Boston Red Sox , for `` never quit , '' and can be found at www.nvrqt.org .