Golden Gophers get into winning spirit with HopeKids
12-28-2009
ttwietmeyer@abc15.comTara Twietmeyer
PHOENIX -- The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was in the Valley of the Sun Sunday getting into the winning spirit.
Before they play in the 21st Annual Insight Bowl later this week, the football players let off some steam and goofed around with children from a support group called HopeKids at Castles N’ Coasters.
“This is so fun,” Gophers football player #15, Simeni Lawrence said.
He went on to say that the best part of his day was just hanging out with the kids; who are battling cancer and other life threatening conditions.
“These kids have a lot going on in their lives,” Founder and President of HopeKids, Robert Cottrell said. “Chemo, radiation and doctors visits. This gives them the chance to just escape, to get away from all of that and just lose themselves in this fun day.”
The Golden Gophers take on the Iowa State Cyclones on Thursday during the Bowl game at Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium.
“I would encourage the fans here in the Valley of the Sun to come on out to the game,” Associate Director of Athletic Communications for the Minnesota Gophers, Andy Seeley said. “If you’re cheering for the Cyclones or cheering for the Gophers, either way, it is going to be a great football game.”
HopeKids is an organization that provides ongoing events and activities for children with severe medical conditions. This is the second year the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team has been out to Arizona to hang out with the children involved in the organization.
“Are players are happy to be here,” Seeley says. “It is another chance for them to win a football game and beyond that, the event that is going on with HopeKids. It is just really important to them. They had a great time last year and they were more than happy to do it again this year.”
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