Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 31: The Austin Shepherd Foundation

I made it to Minnesota! We have 4 member hospitals up here, Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, St. Mary's Children's Hospital, Erick Peter Person Children's Cancer Center, and University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital! 

Austin Shepherd Foundation visiting members

There is a lot in the works in Minnesota, and we are working with the Austin Shepherd Foundation to bring Beads of Courage to more children and teens coping with cancer and other serious illnesses. The Austin Shepherd Foundation has funded the Beads of Courage program at Children's of Alabama, and we are working together to add more programs of support at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. 

The Austin Shepherd Foundation started in 2011, and they coordinate hospital visits with local celebrities and provide football tickets to patients and their families. They also fund cancer research! You can learn more about the work they do by visiting their website.

Austin visiting a Beads of Courage member

The Austin Shepherd Foundation began working with Beads of Courage through the Carry a Bead program in Alabama, when the University of Alabama football players wore Carry a Beads at their practices. They then visited local hospitals with their story cards to visit Beads of Courage members! 

The Austin Shepherd Foundation definitely Makes Courage Roar! Be sure to participate and fund the mission of the 9^th Annual Bead Challenge, and don’t forget to use #beadstrong on social media to show your support.

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage