Helpers Baseball Team Fundraising Campaign to Join MLB Women’s Cup in Nanjing, China

Almost every Sunday, the Philippine Sluggers Baseball Team formed by nearly 20 Filipino helpers gathers in Shek Kip Mei Service Reservoir Playground which is about 2.95 km away from Lion Rock, Hong Kong. They wear baseball clothing from different brands and practice passing the balls, swinging bats on the corner of the softball field. They are less likely to rent a venue to practice because the four-day rent will cost most of the players more than a quarter of their salaries.

幾乎每個週日，在距離獅子山約2.95公里的石硤尾配水庫遊樂場，都會聚集近20名菲傭組成的棒球隊「重砲手」（Sluggers）。她們身穿不同品牌軿湊來的棒球球服，在壘球球場的邊緣狹長草地上練習傳球、揮棒和走位。她們較少租用一塊完整的場地來練習，因為4個週日的場地租金將花去她們大多數人超過1/4的薪水。

The baseball, this collective sport, has given the Filipino helpers the greatest comfort in their rest day once a week, for they are far away from their family. No matter what goes wrong at work, how the young children at home become rebellious, and even some family members suddenly pass away, the players of the Philippine Sluggers choose to return to the field and spend time with their teammates.

儘管如此，與長期遠離家人相比，棒球這項集體運動，在一週僅有一天的假期裡，給了這群菲傭最大的慰藉。工作中遭遇的不順利，家鄉幼子的叛逆，甚至是至親的突然離世，「重砲手」的隊員都選擇回到賽場上，與隊友共同度過。

In the 2015/2016 season, the Philippine Sluggers won the Championship in the Women Grade B Hong Kong Baseball League and the chance to join Grade A games. However, the Philippine Sluggers suffer ups and downs. Many experienced players have left and now 80% of the team members are fresh. But they don't want to give up. Now the Philippine Sluggers strike in the 2018/2019 season for a chance to return to the Grade A.

在2015/2016賽季，「重砲手」曾奪得香港女子棒球公開賽乙組冠軍，升入甲組。但和許多運動球隊一樣，「重砲手」也經受著運動週期的影響，處於青黃不接的狀態。不過，「重砲手」們並沒有因此退縮，始終相互扶持，堅持訓練。在2018/2019賽季，「重砲手」在乙組中拼搏，希望獲得重回甲組的機會。

The story of the Filipino helpers baseball team has touched the Hong Kong International New Media Group and the well-known documentary director Wang Chongxi. The documentary "Sunday" based on this story will be released this year.

菲傭棒球隊的故事，打動了香港國際新媒體集團和知名紀錄片導演王沖霄，由此拍攝而成的紀錄片《第七日》將於今年對外發佈。

The Philippine Sluggers also get the recognition by the MLB China. They have been invited to participate in the MLB Women's Cup held in Nanjing from May 9th to 13th for training and competition.

However, the costs of the plane tickets and visa fees for traveling to Nanjing, China from Hong Kong are huge financial pressures for the helpers. Through this fundraising campaign, 6 players of the Philippine Sluggers wish to get the support to go to join the MLB Women's Cup.

「重砲手」們的奮鬥經歷，也獲得了美國職業棒球大聯盟在華機構（MLB China）的肯定。她們受邀參加今年5月11日至12日在南京舉行的MLB女子棒球赛（MLB Women's Cup），進行訓練和比賽。但行程所需的往返香港和南京的機票費用、簽證費用，對菲傭們來說，都是巨額的財務壓力。通過此次眾籌，希望能夠為6名「重砲手」球員籌集足夠的費用前往南京參加MLB女子棒球赛。