Favre Honored Yet Again
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by Cheezer
Editors Note: Original article is at jsonline at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=694118
On Thursday, December 6, 2007, Brett Favre received an award much more prestigious than the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award. He received the Chris Greicius Celebrity Award from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It is an award given to entertainers and athletes who go above and beyond the norm in granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The Green Bay Packers organization has granted more than 90 wishes since 1990. Meeting Brett Favre has been the wish of nearly 65 children in that time span.
The award ceremony took place at Lambeau Field after practice on Thursday. Anna Walentowski, a 9-yr old from Neenah, WI who has battled a degenerative brain disorder was on hand to witness the event. Anna first met Favre in 2004 for her make-a-wish request.
At the time of her wish, Favre was told Anna had little time left to live.
Brett and Deanna put a picture of the little girl on their refrigerator. "Every day we looked at that picture and prayed for Anna and her family," Deanna wrote in her book, "Don't Bet Against Me."
Favre teared up Thursday when he realized that Anna had survived to meet him again. “My wish is granted," said Favre, who then had to pause for a long moment before he could continue to talk. Shaking, Favre was comforted by Anna, who turned to give him a hug.
"Congratulations," she told him.
"I'm just so happy to see her here standing beside me," Favre said.
With all the opportunity to associate with movie stars and super models, it's nice to see athletes who are well grounded and focused on family.
Hattip: Lori Nickel, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal
