University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Athletics to Host Allianz HopeDay Festival Sept. 9
8/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
University of Minnesota coaches, student-athletes and administration will host the Allianz HopeDay Festival, Sunday, Sept., 9 at the Bierman Track from noon to 4 p.m. Over 750 family members from the HopeKids organization will be present along with over 700 student-athletes from Minnesota will participate in the event. The festival marks the first full athletics department and HopeKids event and will replace the fall kickoff luncheon that has been held every year. A majority of the Gopher coaches and athletics director Joel Maturi, University President Robert Bruininks and Allianz Senior Vice President of Sales Eric Thomes will also be present.
The festival will include sporting clinics from a number of Gopher programs and student-athletes, including a dunk tank by the swim teams and mini-golf station from the men’s and women’s golf teams. Along with student-athletes participating in events, a magician, a juggler, a balloon artist, inflatables, a rock-climbing wall, face painters and air-brush tattoo artists will also be available.
HopeKids is an organization, which gives hope to children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses and their families, via a program of ongoing, highly anticipated events. Founded in September 2001 by Robert R. Cottrell in Phoenix, Ariz., it has recently branched out to chapters in Dallas/Fort Worth and Minneapolis/St. Paul in November of 2006. The Phoenix chapter serves nearly 300 children, while the Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter has already reached 250 kids and their families. A large percentage of the children in the program have already had their one large wish from one of the wish organizations, but their battle continues. Approximately 85 percent of the children in the program have some form of cancer. HopeKids also serves children with other life threatening illnesses including cystic fibrosis, kidney and heart diseases, and blood diseases. HopeKids is for children between the ages of zero to 18 and their entire family.
