October 9, 2007

Lindenwood University Holds First Shriners Hospital Football Game

Lindenwood University hosted the first Shriners Hospital Football Game on Oct. 6 in St. Charles, Mo. The Lions football team had several events throughout the week to help the children's hospital in St. Louis.

On Monday, Oct. 1, the entire football program took a visit to the Shriners Hospital. The trip help educate the players about the daily happenings of the hospital, and the Lions were also able to meet and play with some of the children.

Prior to the game between Lindenwood and Benedictine, the crowd was treated to pregame entertainment from Shriners members.

The highlight of the day though came during an emotional national anthem, which was sung by 14-year-old Timmy Kelly. Timmy, who lives just outside of Philadelphia, was born premature and weighed just one pound, 15 ounces. He was in the hospital for four months, including developing problems with his eyes which has left him blind. Since then, Timmy has had 23 surgeries, the majority of which took place at Shriners Hospitals.

Thanks to this help from Shriners Hospital, Timmy is now an eighth-grade honor student and he has traveled all over the country with his singing. Saturday's football crowd joined an impressive list of audiences that Timmy has sung for, including eight Philadelphia Eagles NFL games, Good Morning America, and three times before the President of the United States.

Lindenwood collected donations for the Shriners Hospital in St. Louis at the football game, which was won by the Lions by a 21-16 score. The school will also donate half of the ticket money that was raised on Saturday to the hospital.

Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis is part of a 22-hospital system that provides world-class, specialized medical care to children at absolutely no cost to their families. Each Shriners Hospital provides family-centered care that includes a qualified team of surgeons, nurses and medical professionals, using some of the most sophisticated, technologically advanced techniques in the world.

Shriners Hospital - St. Louis is a world leader in orthopedic disorders, including scoliosis, limb deficiencies and growth problems, and problems related to disorders such as spina bifida and cerebral palsy. The Shrine fraternity has provided funding for the hospital system since its inception in 1922, which accepts all children, under the age of 18, in need of its specialized medical care, regardless of financial need or relationship to a Shriner.

For more information on the Shriners Hospital, or to give a donation, visit their website at www.shrinershq.org.