Eight University of Wisconsin student athletes from five different sports went bald April 15.
One of those student athletes, senior kicker Andrew Endicott from the football team, said his new hair — or lack thereof — felt great, but something else about the experience felt even better.
“The haircut feels good and seeing the kids smile feels even better,” Endicott said. “I am honored to do it and I really have a lot of fun doing it.”
The fresh trims came as part of the the Badgers Give Back campaign’s third-annual Badgers Go Bald event at Camp Randall Stadium. The event gives UW student athletes the opportunity to support children who are currently battling cancer at the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison.
In addition to Endicott, the other student athlete’s involved were quarterback Bart Houston, long-snapper Connor Udelhoven and offensive lineman Matt Miller from football, along with Andy Hamilton from men’s rowing, Rylan Lubeck from wrestling, Ali Nageotte from women’s golf and Rachel Fledderman from women’s track and field.
For all the student athletes, the experience proved to be consistently humbling.
“It’s definitely a humbling experience,” Miller said. “To be able to have some fun with them, even for a little bit here, to just see those smiles and just share a moment with them is very special.”
In addition to being able to give haircuts, families and children who attended were also given a tour of Camp Randall Stadium. This included stops in the stadium’s box suites, student athlete recreation room, football locker room and then finally a chance to step on the field.
For Miller in particular, the event was a reminder of just how lucky he is.
“Watching these kids do this, it’s just awesome and it makes you feel great to get them here to see Camp Randall,” Miller said. “When they see it and their eyes light up and they smile and they run around and get excited, it really makes you realize how blessed we are and how good we’ve really got it.”
Upon rounding the final corner of the tunnel and seeing the sunshine peaking through once again, the excitement level rose. Every child who was present got a taste for what it must feel like to come out onto the field on Saturdays, shoulder to shoulder with the Badgers.
After taking the field, many of the children got the chance to catch touchdown passes from senior quarterback Houston, while others emulated previous Badger rushing greats, by running 100 yard touchdown scores up and down the field.
The sheer happiness and joy bouncing from smile to smile around every activity and adventure Friday evening was proof enough that the opportunity for these children to bond and laugh with some of their Badger heroes meant something truly special to everyone.
“It feels great to interact with these kids,” Miller said. “They have gone through more in their life than anyone should ever have to deal with, and then even after all of that, for them to smile and laugh as much as they do while they run around, it is pretty inspirational to me.”
