July 22, 2008
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The most memorable part of the 2008 Conference USA Football Blitz for senior cornerback Joe Burnett and senior left tackle Pat Brown was not the commercial shoot for the league, the numerous print and television interviews, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl 50th Anniversary dinner or the live CBS College Sports Show.
For the two Knights, the most memorable moment of their two-day trip to Memphis was the visit to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Monday morning. Most of the players from the league's 12 schools in attendance at the media day festivities were able to take a two-hour tour of one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers.
"The highlight for me from the hospital visit was they do all this financially free," Burnett said. "There is no stress on the parents. The mom who talked to us would not have been able to get the treatment her son needed and the transportation to and from the hospital. To be able to give all the medicine and things he needs without her having to struggle and worry about money is amazing."
The hospital's mission is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962, no child is denied treatment at St. Jude based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.
Following a tour of the facility and a visit with a research doctor, the players were able to meet and listen to the story of a mother and child, who has been stricken with cancer.
"It really opened to my eyes to what a great place it was and brought an awareness to me of something I need to help spread around," Brown said. "A lot of times you hear that St. Jude is doing a fundraiser and sometimes you don't really think about it, but after this experience, you realize how much good they really are doing for children around the world."
Burnett and Brown both played in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl for the Knights a year ago after the team's run to the C-USA Championship. The 2007 senior class was part of a group that was able to visit the hospital in December, but for Brown and Burnett, this was their first visit to the facility.
The players were glad to know that St. Jude is a big benefactor from the bowl game and that some proceeds from that contest are going to the St. Jude cause. "This experience was something that we will both go back and share with our teammates," Burnett added. "It makes you feel good that you can do something positive for small kids and hopefully one day we'll be in a position to give back financially to this place."
--UCF Athletics--