Brady Leaf, Jonathan Stewart, J.D. Nelson and Brent Haberly are expected to be critical parts of the Oregon football team next season.
But today, they are Oregon athletes looking to make a difference in the lives of four local children living with a neuromuscular disease.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association and Mike Bellotti’s Ultimate Tailgate Party established the first “football buddy” program, which they plan to continue as an annual event.
In the program, four children, ranging from ages 8 to 14, are paired with the four Oregon football players. The children will meet their football buddies before today’s spring practice, and the duos will have dinner together following the practice.
“We’re really excited and very thankful that it was received as it was,” said Nell Higginbotham, the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Eugene district director. “It’s something really special that not every kid gets to do, and it’s something the boys will remember the rest of their lives.”
The participants this year are 14-year-old Nicholas Hansen, 13-year-old Daniel Roehrig, 13-year-old Morgan Scott and 8-year-old McKay Freshour.
McKay, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy-3, is Haberly’s cousin.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Yvonne Freshour, McKay’s grandmother, said. “It’s refreshing to know that these young men on the football team are making themselves available for such an event for these young people to be a part of. I’m just one grateful grandparent for people like this.”
Leaf, Stewart, Nelson and Haberly were contacted about the event and voluntarily become football buddies.
Following their meeting at today’s practice, the football players and their buddies will attend the Mike Bellotti Ultimate Tailgate Party together on May 11.
At that event, each football player will recognize his buddy with a Courage Award.
“I think it means a lot,” Nelson said of the program. “Just for these kids to get a chance to come kick it with us, it means the world to them. And, it’s a good chance for us just to know that life is a lot more than just football. We plan on having a great time.”
This is the 13th year Bellotti has hosted the Ultimate Tailgate Party to benefit people living with neuromuscular diseases. The event began with former Ducks coach Rich Brooks and has continued with Bellotti.
More than 2,000 Oregonians are affected with at least one of the 43 different neuromuscular diseases. Running backs coach Gary Campbell’s son, Bryan, is one of those living with the disease.
The football buddy program’s sponsor, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, is a National Voluntary Health Agency and a dedicated partner between scientists and concerned citizens “aimed at conquering neuromuscular diseases.”
The association holds fundraisers such as the Ultimate Tailgate Party, which helps purchase wheelchairs and leg braces and fund research, among other things.
“Without this program, where would McKay be?” Yvonne Freshour said. “Everything we need, they’ve helped us out on. I think it’s awesome.”
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