Nine-year-old Leigh Marie Dittman of Lutz, Fla., will represent Shriners Hospitals for Children as a patient ambassador for the 85th East-West Shrine Game.

(See Leigh and her Fathers story below)

 

     

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ABOUT THE EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME


The East-West Shrine Game is the oldest and one of the most respected of the post-season collegiate bowl games. Since 1925, the game has been known for the quality of the players and coaches, as well as for the excitement of great college football action.

But that's not what makes it "Football's Finest Hour." What makes the East-West Game so special is its true purpose — helping to support Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Every year since 1925, the East-West Game has been played to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children and to raise awareness about the expert orthopaedic, burn, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate care, available at no charge to patients and families, through the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The players themselves regard the game in a special light, as they learn the true purpose of the game during a pre-game visit to the Shriners Hospital in Tampa, Florida..

About Shriners Hospitals for Children:

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative medical research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services at no charge – regardless of financial need. For more information, please visit www.shrinershospitals.org.

About Shriners International:

Shriners International is the 375,000-member fraternity that founded and continues to operate the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Shriners International has 191 temples (chapters) in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama. For more information about this great fraternity, please visit www.shrinershq.org.



FLORIDA WIDOWS SONS GRAND CHAPTER

GAME DAY RIDE & EVENT INFORMATION

 

My Brothers,

 

The Florida Widows Sons are all geared up to Attend The Shrine EAST WEST Football Game in Orlando on Saturday January 23rd, 2010 @ 3pm in the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

 

WE are working on low rates for rooms and WE HAVE A OFFER WE CAN'T REFUSE FROM THE SHRINE, for every $25.00 ticket we purchase we will get $5.00 back for THE WIDOWS & ORPHANS FUND.

 

We have 2 brothers supplying RV's as Hospitality Wagons for the event, (we will be passing a hat to help pay for the goods that will be supplied by the wagons @ the event) THE SHRINE has arranged Parking for RV Tailgating only.  BUT if we ride in with The RV's we can park with them.  Our Brother Mick "DOC"` McKinley President of The Orlando Widows Sons "Knights of Solomon", is arranging for a meeting place near the Stadium for us all to meet 11:00 a.m. on January 23rd(bikes & the 2 RV's) so we can all ride in together in order for us all to be able to get into the RV parking area and park together.

 

MORE INFO WILL FOLLOW.

 

I NEED before or on December 28th a TOTAL count of how many members of YOUR Chapter will attend.  Once I have that figure I will order the Tickets from The Shrine, then I will bill your Chapter for the Tickets, you will send me a self Addressed Stamped Envelope with a Check made out to THE KNIGHTS OF THE EAST.  The Grand Chapter of Florida (Knights of the East) will forward the $20.00 per ticket to The Shrine & deposit $5.00 per ticket to The Florida Widows & Orphans Fund.

 

Brothers, I feel we can expect at least 80 members from Florida Widows Sons ALONE, we have heard that they may be interest from ALABAMA, GEORGIA, & SOUTH CAROLINA Widow Sons also, Maybe TENNESSEE may be interested (this is a suggestion since TENNESSEE is also on my mailing list).  THIS IS A TELEVISED EVENT AND I WILL BE BRINGING THE STATE BANNER, As Always, Your Ladies are welcome.

 

Please contact Your Chapter Members ASAP & get back to me.

 

Stroker Joe Stella, PM

Florida Widows Sons Grand Chapter President

bedpark198@aol.com  

 

2010 GAME AMBASSADOR

Leigh Dittman

(Photo top of page)

 
Nine-year-old Leigh Marie Dittman of Lutz, Fla., will represent Shriners Hospitals for Children as a patient ambassador for the 85th East-West Shrine Game.

A fourth grader at Lutz Elementary School, Leigh is in the gifted program and belongs to the Odyssey of the Mind Club. She is a huge fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team and the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.

Leigh has been a patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa since shortly after her birth. She was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly known as brittle bone disease. She was the youngest patient admitted into a Shriners Hospitals for Children research study using a medication called Pamidronate. The care and treatment Leigh receives has helped decrease the number of fractures she has had, lessened her pain and increased her mobility.

Full of enthusiasm and compassion, Leigh and her generous spirit have touched the lives of many people. When she was 3, Leigh expressed to her family that she wanted to help other kids, because Shriners Hospitals for Children was helping her. So, instead of receiving toys for her birthday, she requested donations to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children! This yearly fundraising event has grown from a backyard party into a huge celebration with more than 700 people attending the 6th annual event in September. Leigh and her family have raised more than $250,000 dollars for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Leigh’s father, David, a captain with Tampa Fire Rescue, recently became a Shriner. He and Leigh’s mom, Ellen, keep very busy raising Leigh and her two sisters, Taylor and Skyler.
 


Ticket prices for the East-West Shrine Game are:

Premium Sideline Seating - $50
Sideline General Admission Seating - $25
Endzone General Admission Seating - $15

(Groups of 10 or more qualify for Group Ticket Rate)
Group tickets can be purchased by calling the Orlando Venues Box Office at 407-849-2098.

Group Sideline Seating - $15
Group Endzone Seating - $5