Shrine Bowl to include screening clinic
Special to the Gazette
Originally published 01:45 p.m., July 1, 2008
Updated 01:45 p.m., July 1, 2008
The 2008 Kansas Shrine Bowl in Emporia will offer a parade, a host of family-friendly activities, and the state’s premier All Star football game.
But for families of children in need of the free care provided by Shriners Hospitals, the Shrine Bowl will offer something more than just a day of fun activities. It will offer hope.
For the second straight year, a free screening clinic will be held on game day to determine if children can be helped by the medical services offered by the 22 Shrine Hospitals in North America. Shriners, medical personnel and representatives of the Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis, Mo., will be available from 9 a.m. to noon July 26 at the Flint Hills Community Health Center, 420 W. 15th Ave., to help with the screening process.
Kansas Shrine Bowl Executive Director Dave Mize said the screening clinic is a natural outgrowth of the activities that surround the game.
“There will be a lot of people coming to Emporia. We think this is a great opportunity for families to get free evaluations of kids with orthopedic challenges to get screened, and to find out if treatment at one of our hospitals is the right thing for them”, he said.
Susan Bland, public relations specialist at the St. Louis hospital, is herself a former Shriners Hospital patient. She said she is excited about coming to Emporia, and thinks the screening is a great tie-in with the football game.
“It’s an opportunity for us to help families that don’t know where else to turn,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for us. I’ll be there to talk to families, to make them feel welcome.”
Bland said no pre-registration is necessary.
“Just show up,” she said. “Families will be greeted by Shriners, asked to fill out an application, and then be evaluated by volunteer physicians.”
Patients who are accepted will most likely go to the St. Louis Hospital for treatment. Children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries or cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment at no charge—regardless of financial need. There is never a charge for treatment at a Shriners Hospital.
The executive director of the Flint Hills Community Health Center said the center is happy to be the host for the screening clinic.
“We think it’s a delightful opportunity to be of service in this way,” said Lougene Marsh. “It’s also a great opportunity for the community to learn more about how they can connect with the services of the Shriners Hospitals, and for people who previously were unaware of what the hospitals do to learn about them.”
She said local pediatrician Dr. Michael Mawdsley, and a local orthopedic doctor Dr. Michael Yost, along with the center’s nursing staff, will conduct the screenings.
About the bowl
Kickoff for this year’s Shrine Bowl at Welch Stadium in Emporia is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 26. Proceeds from all Shrine Bowl events support the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic, burn and spinal care to children under 18.
Advance reserved chairback tickets for the game are $20. Adult general admission tickets are $9 in advance. Student tickets (K-12) are $5 in advance.
For information or tickets, call the Shrine Bowl office at (800) 530-5524.