The Chicago Bears players are having a lot of fun this week and are doing a lot of good too! With the NFC Championship game this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, excitement between the team and fans is at an all time high.
Monday evening, a handful of Chicago Bears players appeared at the Brunswick Zone XL in Algonquin to support the Pros Bowl for Brandon fundraiser. Brandon is a 14-year-old freshman at Crystal Lake Central who has terminal cancer. Brandon has a fast-growing form of cancer called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He has gone through a bone marrow transplant as well as chemotherapy for much of his young life.
Among several of the many players that attended were Jay Cutler (pictured above), Devin Hester (pictured below), Johnny Knox, Greg Olsen (pictured right), Earl Bennett, DJ Moore and even Roland Harper – played on the Bears’ team 1975-1982.
The evening kicked off with a VIP meet and greet and autograph signing session from each of the players in the Brunswick Bar. Tickets were limited to the VIP event so not everyone at the fundraiser could attend. Once that concluded the players were brought out to the bowling area’s stage with an emcee introducing each one of them. The roars of excitement from attendees were deafening. Fans held up football after football to the players for complimentary autographs.
Every person bowling had the opportunity to participate in the live auction where they could buy a Bears player to bowl with them for two hours. Watching football professionals bowling was a sight to see. Seeing the Chicago Bears players having fun, while helping raise money for Brandon, was very heartwarming. A huge silent auction with various signed sports memorabilia took place the entire evening as well.
The event raised over $45,000 for Brandon. If you would like to donate, please contact the event organizer Wayne Jett of Jett’s Heating & Cooling at (815) 459-4700.
The Chicago Bears festivities continued this week on Tuesday with a taping of the Chicago Huddle TV show at Chili’s in Vernon Hills. Chicago Huddle is a 30-minute weekly program hosted by former Bear Dan Jiggets where current Bears players re-cap and preview their games. The show has been taping at Chili’s on Tuesdays since September and airs every weekend on Comcast SportsNet. This week, Jiggets welcomed players DJ Moore and Nick Roach. This taping will air Friday (1/21) at 9:30 p.m., Saturday (1/22) at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday (1/23) at 9:30 a.m. The show will continue if the Chicago Bears win.
The famed #1 Chicago Bears fan, Glenn Timmermann, attended the Chicago Huddle taping too. Timmermann has over 120 tattoos of Chicago Bears players’ autographs, Bears logos, images and more on his body. He was seen on NBC 5 Chicago last night for his support of the Chicago Bears.
On Friday, January 21st I will get the opportunity with radio station 102.3 XLC, to join Timmermann (pictured left) at WGN 9 Chicago as he is featured on their morning show at 7:15 am. It is rumored that a Chicago Bears player will be making an appearance during this WGN TV segment to sign his skin.
Timmermann does not currently have tickets for the NFC Championship game. He is willing to get your name or company logo tattooed on him in exchange for two tickets. Interested parties should comment below or e-mail me at [email protected].
Halftime entertainment at this Sunday’s game will be provided by Mount Prospect native and American Idol winner, Lee DeWyze and Jim Cornelison will sing the National Anthem.
Below are photo slideshows of the Pros Bowl for Brandon Fundraiser and Chicago Huddle TV Show taping.
Go Bears!
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