Gophers Host Row the Boat Barbecue at UMMCH

University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital hosted its 2nd Annual Row the Boat BBQ. Former and current patients and their families enjoyed face painting, games, a dunk tank, raffles and food alongside the entire Gopher Football team.

Caribou Coffee presented Coach Fleck with a check for $10,000 from proceeds raised from the Gopher Blend they sold during the football season to be donated to the hospital.

Coach Fleck and players Thomas Barber and Casey O’Brien all spoke words of encouragement to the patients and their families during the presentation. Casey O’Brien is a four-time cancer survivor and has spent over 200 nights in Masonic Children’s Hospital himself. He was able to draw on his personal experience to offer words of encouragement to the patients, and gratitude to the entire hospital staff.

P.J. and Heather Fleck have been connected to University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital since coming to Minnesota and establishing the Row the Boat Fund. They are both committed to dedicating their time, dollars and energy to better the lives of patients and their families in the hospital.

It is because of partnerships like University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital and Gopher Football/Row the Boat Fund that patients and their families are able to get these experiences and be provided with the best care possible.