Thursday, December 16, 2010

Former Wisconsin Badger Jake Dowell helps grant dying boy’s wish

Former Wisconsin Badger Jake Dowell helps grant dying boy's wish

It’s always nice to see when an athlete realizes the impact he can have on the lives of people outside of the arena.

Jake Dowell is clearly one of those players. Dowell, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is a member of the Chicago Blackhawks and four-year standout at the University of Wisconsin (2007).

In the story linked (below) by NBC Chicago, Dowell visits with Griffin Bohan, a young Blackhawks fan who is battling cancer. The video shows Dowell driving out to Palatine, Illinois, on his day off to visit with Bohan and his family. Dowell also recently hosted the family at Chicago’s game against the Colorado Avalanche as a way to show support for the family. Dowell can relate with the Bohan family’s struggles, as his dad and brother are both battling the effects of Huntington’s disease.

In this holiday season the story serves as a nice reminder about how a little effort and time can go a long way toward helping others.