University of Minnesota Athletics
Letterwinner Spotlight: Sarah Kasner, Spirit Squad
11/19/2019 10:04:00 AM | M Club
Spirit Squad letterwinner, Sarah Kasner, and her family are thankful for the support from their Gopher family as they fight to find a cure for rare genetic disease affecting two of their sons.
Sarah Kasner, Gopher Spirit Squad letterwinner, has stayed connected to the University of Minnesota since she graduated in 2001. The Gopher spirit continues to live on as her family has been season ticket holders for Gopher men's hockey, men's basketball, and football over the past 10 years. Beyond their support for Gopher athletics, the Kasner's have continued to support the University of Minnesota. Kasner and her family raised over $43,000 for the University of Minnesota Neuromuscular Department through the Minnesota Twins Wives organization and the Favorite Things Silent Auction.
Sarah Kasner and her husband Dan have four sons: AJ, Ben, Caleb, and Duncan. The Neuromuscular Department is important to the Kasner's because their two youngest sons, Caleb and Duncan, have been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a fatal disease that causes muscles to deteriorate over time eventually ending with the heart and lungs. In an effort to provide their young sons with the best childhoods' possible, the Kasner's have worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness to support the search for a cure.
Watch the video below for a look into the lives of the Kasner family and meet their young sons, Caleb and Duncan.
In an interview with former Gopher and Spirit Squad letterwinner, Sarah Kasner, mentioned how important the Gopher support system has been for her family. When speaking about her time in college, Kasner said, "Better than any of the tangible things are the life-long friendships that were created during this time. I never knew how strongly I would rely upon this community later on in my life."
These relationships have remained strong and the Kasner's are thankful for the Gopher family, spirit squad, and Spirit Squad Director and head coach Sam Owens. Upon hearing the news of Caleb and Duncan, Coach Owens took this as an opportunity to have the program support the Kasner Family. These student-athletes took time to learn about the boys and the disease which allowed them to recognize how precious life is. Coach Owens has always emphasized that the spirit squad program is not just about the sport, but about developing great individuals so that they are all better prepared for life.
Kasner described how the Spirit Squad team embraced her family with open arms, "I watched those athletes love on my boys and care for them and support them and pray for them in a way that was so moving."
It has been difficult for the Kasner's to balance the doctor's appointments and treatments while continuing to give their young sons, Caleb and Duncan, time to just be kids.
"It's our mission to keep them smiling and happy despite what we are forced to put them through. The prognosis says their life will be abbreviated, maybe 25 percent of a normal male, so that's motivation for us to enjoy everything life has to offer them. We started ignoring what other people thought and are just doing what we think is best for our family," Kasner said.
The older Kasner boys, AJ and Ben have stepped up in tremendous ways to help both Sarah and her husband Dan. Sarah understands that this is difficult for the entire family and that her older sons have to deal with struggles that most teenagers do not. She has so much gratitude for AJ and Ben and the many other people in their lives that help her and Dan be the best parents to Caleb and Duncan that they can be.
When asked how she dealt with the life changing diagnosis' for her sons and how she manages to stay positive, Kasner said, "The truth is we don't stay positive every day, but we do get through everyday with a smile for the sake of our kids. What has helped us is to be open and transparent about the disease and what we are going through. It took us a while to know that would be helpful, because you think if you don't talk about it, maybe it will be easier. But the truth is, when you talk openly you receive prayers, love and support that you would never have otherwise."
Sarah Kasner and her husband Dan have four sons: AJ, Ben, Caleb, and Duncan. The Neuromuscular Department is important to the Kasner's because their two youngest sons, Caleb and Duncan, have been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a fatal disease that causes muscles to deteriorate over time eventually ending with the heart and lungs. In an effort to provide their young sons with the best childhoods' possible, the Kasner's have worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness to support the search for a cure.
Watch the video below for a look into the lives of the Kasner family and meet their young sons, Caleb and Duncan.
In an interview with former Gopher and Spirit Squad letterwinner, Sarah Kasner, mentioned how important the Gopher support system has been for her family. When speaking about her time in college, Kasner said, "Better than any of the tangible things are the life-long friendships that were created during this time. I never knew how strongly I would rely upon this community later on in my life."
Pictured: (front row, third from the left) Sarah Kasner and the spirit squad team
These relationships have remained strong and the Kasner's are thankful for the Gopher family, spirit squad, and Spirit Squad Director and head coach Sam Owens. Upon hearing the news of Caleb and Duncan, Coach Owens took this as an opportunity to have the program support the Kasner Family. These student-athletes took time to learn about the boys and the disease which allowed them to recognize how precious life is. Coach Owens has always emphasized that the spirit squad program is not just about the sport, but about developing great individuals so that they are all better prepared for life.
Kasner described how the Spirit Squad team embraced her family with open arms, "I watched those athletes love on my boys and care for them and support them and pray for them in a way that was so moving."
It has been difficult for the Kasner's to balance the doctor's appointments and treatments while continuing to give their young sons, Caleb and Duncan, time to just be kids.
"It's our mission to keep them smiling and happy despite what we are forced to put them through. The prognosis says their life will be abbreviated, maybe 25 percent of a normal male, so that's motivation for us to enjoy everything life has to offer them. We started ignoring what other people thought and are just doing what we think is best for our family," Kasner said.
Pictured: Duncan and Caleb Kasner with Coach Fleck
The older Kasner boys, AJ and Ben have stepped up in tremendous ways to help both Sarah and her husband Dan. Sarah understands that this is difficult for the entire family and that her older sons have to deal with struggles that most teenagers do not. She has so much gratitude for AJ and Ben and the many other people in their lives that help her and Dan be the best parents to Caleb and Duncan that they can be.
When asked how she dealt with the life changing diagnosis' for her sons and how she manages to stay positive, Kasner said, "The truth is we don't stay positive every day, but we do get through everyday with a smile for the sake of our kids. What has helped us is to be open and transparent about the disease and what we are going through. It took us a while to know that would be helpful, because you think if you don't talk about it, maybe it will be easier. But the truth is, when you talk openly you receive prayers, love and support that you would never have otherwise."
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