Rookies Give Back
The Atlanta Falcons Rookie Club sponsored by UnitedHealthcare of Georgia visited the Shepherd Center in Atlanta this past Tuesday. Led by first-round draft choice Peria Jerry and second-round selection William Moore, the rookies along with members of the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders signed autographs and visited with the patients.
“What a great experience,” cornerback Chris Owens said. “It was really cool to see how happy the people were for us to come out and see them.”
Many of the patients visited have been facing extreme challenges with some of their diseases or injuries; however they had extremely high spirits seeing some of the new rookies on the Falcons.
One patient exclaimed, “I want a Super Bowl this season!”
“What a humbling experience this was today,” remarked cornerback William Middleton. “The challenges many of these people are facing takes a lot of determination and courage. I’m just happy we had an opportunity to come and meet some of them.”
The cheerleaders were also a highlight for the visit as well. Many of the patients were eager to receive an autographed cheerleading poster and receive a picture with the ladies.
The Shepherd Center is a private, non-profit hospital devoted to the medical care and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular problems.
This marked the second consecutive year that the Falcons have visited the Shepherd Center. In 2008, the Falcons defensive line visited.
