By Danny Morales
ST. PETERSBURG -- While the 88th Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, FL may have been a little one sided, the true meaning of the game was not lost nor gained on the scoreboard. Prior to Saturday afternoon’s East-West Shrine Game players visited patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children. Shriners Hospitals has 22 locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while treating nearly 1,000,000 patients to date. “It’s very important,” said Alan Madsen of the Oasis Shriners, who are one of the groups that helped put the game together. “The East-West Shrine Bowl Game is our window of opportunity to the public to promote awareness of our hospitals.” “A lot of people don’t realize we have 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and that we treat as many children as we treat,” added Madsen. “So what we’re trying to do is get that out so that we can get more patients number one, and raise more money.” Pat Tillman Award winner Keith Pough of Howard University was one of the many players involved in the Shrine Game that visited Shriners Hospital during the week. |
“Those kids we met at the hospital, they greeted us with smiles and warm embrace,” said Pough. “It was a beautiful feeling. After I got on the bus my heart was smiling, I didn’t think I was going to have that much fun.”
“I think they had more fun than we did,” added Pough about the players visit to the hospital. “They were all smiling, all laughing, all playing.”
Madsen, who is an Imperial Potentate for the Oasis Shriners, was with the players when they went on their hospital visits earlier in the week.
“These big guys, they got down and they played with these kids, and they cried with the kids,” said Madsen about the visit. “They had a great time, they really got excited.”
“We hope that they’ll all go on to become great in the NFL, and that when they have to name a charity they’ll name Shriners Hospitals for Children.” added Madsen.
University of South Florida cornerback Kayvon Webster was another player who visited Shriners Hospitals for Children during the week.
“It was a great experience,” said Webster of the visit. “Just to see those kids smile, it makes you want to work harder through injury and things like that. I’m happy for those kids.”
“I think they had more fun than we did,” added Pough about the players visit to the hospital. “They were all smiling, all laughing, all playing.”
Madsen, who is an Imperial Potentate for the Oasis Shriners, was with the players when they went on their hospital visits earlier in the week.
“These big guys, they got down and they played with these kids, and they cried with the kids,” said Madsen about the visit. “They had a great time, they really got excited.”
“We hope that they’ll all go on to become great in the NFL, and that when they have to name a charity they’ll name Shriners Hospitals for Children.” added Madsen.
University of South Florida cornerback Kayvon Webster was another player who visited Shriners Hospitals for Children during the week.
“It was a great experience,” said Webster of the visit. “Just to see those kids smile, it makes you want to work harder through injury and things like that. I’m happy for those kids.”