Players from the East-West Shrine Bowl engage in friendly competitions with patients from Shriners Children’s

Intense competition unfolded on the field at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco as players from the East-West Shrine Bowl teamed up with patients from Shriners Children’s for engaging activities like “duck duck goose” and wheelchair races.

BYU player Ryan Rico expressed, “That was tough,” reflecting on the wheelchair race. “She’s been giving me lessons, but I’m still not as good as the professor.”

Shriners Children’s Chief Marketing Officer Mel Bower highlighted the parallel goals of the players striving for NFL careers and the patients aiming to live their best lives. He remarked, “Every day our patients are trying to reach their ultimate goal, which is to lead their very best life.”

From prosthetic legs to wheelchairs, the patients showcased resilience. Gabby Trujillo, a Shriners Children’s patient from Fort Worth, shared her unique journey of being born without wrist bones, expressing gratitude for her abilities and the opportunity to connect with others.

Bower emphasized the significance of the event, noting the interaction between aspiring NFL players and patients overcoming health challenges.

For Shriners Children’s patients like the one from Eagle Pass, the experience of tossing a football with the players was described as “really fun.”

Rico expressed admiration for the patients’ genuine love for the game, describing it as an honor to share the field with them.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is set to commence on Thursday at 7:07 p.m.