by Eric Nauert
In a dimly lit hospital room at Tanner Medical Center, a concerned mother cradles her distraught little girl. The woman wishes she could take away the child’s tears, vanquish her strained cough, and give rest to her fears and bewilderment. But these post-op hours must be faced one by one, and the best she can do is hold her daughter close and whisper reassurances that soon things will get better. A tonsillectomy is an enormous event in a child’s life. Adrift in this alien landscape of chattering, stainless-steel instruments and sterile white sheets, troubled by the pungent smell of rubbing alcohol, confused by the strange ache in her own throat, this little girl must feel far, far away from her playroom back home.
In a moment, her circumstances improve. The doors open, and a handful of bright-eyed, statuesque, and genuinely compassionate UWG athletes glide into the room, arms laden with stuffed animals. To a young child, these student-athletes standing in a semi-circle beside her bed might seem like superheroes. Gradually, the young patient’s sobs turn to silent awe as it dawns on her that she is being offered a present. She studies each animal in turn before choosing an enormous, fuzzy, pink pig to hold against her cheek. The students wish her well and disappear as quickly and quietly as they came.
This small, good deed lies at the heart of the Bear Toss, an ongoing outreach project designed by Wolves Helping Others, the benevolent arm of UWG Athletics. Their efforts are spearheaded by the energetic Matt Cooke, assistant athletic director for marketing, events, and media services, a leader too polite to talk about his own contributions, but eager to sing the praises of his philanthropic athletes.
“The creations out of this program include events like the annual Canned Food Drive in November and the Toy Drive in December,” Matt explained. “We send student-athletes into local schools with a message of staying in school and the importance of good grades to go along with a healthy and athletic lifestyle. Our student-athletes participate in Read Across America each year in March, which allows them to read to elementary school children on the birthday of Dr. Suess.”
Matt says today’s sacks of stuffed animals came mainly from basketball fans, who were invited to toss their donations directly onto the court during last season’s games. The Bear Toss, now in its third year, has grown by leaps and bounds. The first two years, six or seven students participated. This morning, 22 have gathered at Tanner to deliver the gifts-representatives from football, baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, women’s golf, men’s golf, women’s basketball, and track and field.
Matt believes the Bear Toss will serve his students well, far beyond this flickering moment when they make a child smile.
“It provides them with a great base to take into their professional lives when they are finished with competing on the field, court, or course,” he said.
But for one mother, perhaps this is the moment that counts the most. Thanks to the Bear Toss, her daughter now has a new companion to share her troubles with, as she travels that lonely road back to good health.
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