MINNEAPOLIS -- Saints punter Thomas Morstead delivered a win to sick children Friday after a post from a Vikings fan helped raise more than $220,000 for Morstead’s foundation.
Morstead could never foresee when he walked off U.S. Bank field with a rib injury three weeks ago, a whirlwind of generosity would carry him right back to Minnesota after Vikings fans praised his sportsmanship.
Morstead was the first Saints player to come back onto the field after the "Minneapolis Miracle" play, even though he was injured.
Today, he handed Children's Minnesota the six-figure check as Super Bowl weekend kicked off, delivering his promise to benefit child life programs at Children's Minnesota.
"I'm shaking, and nervous right now. This is the culmination of a lot of people," said Morstead, "It's very humbling."
His foundation, What You Give Will Grow, is inspired by a friend who died from osteosarcoma, and told Morstead how integral child life was to his care while battling cancer.
"They are like angels that look after these kids – nothing bad is going to happen to them when these people are around, there is a protection," said Morstead.
After the Saints game against the Vikings, a fan posted on Reddit praising Morstead’s perseverance while playing with an injury.
Morstead also met that fan today, Garrick Shurts, of Savage.
"As a father who has have kids in hospitals, I’ve seen firsthand child life programs," said Shurts. " I never would have imagined my $25 bucks would have gone so far. The play was amazing, but what came out of that game was more amazing I think. Just the generosity of total strangers, and it proved what great character Morstead has. It's something I’ll never forget."
After Shurts' post, in two days, more than $3,100 had been raised, and Morstead announced donations received that week would go to the Children’s Minnesota Child Life program.
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Once the total raised by Minnesota fans reached $100,000, the punter pledged to make the trip to Minnesota to deliver the check himself.
Beyond that generous gift, Morstead also surprised two child life specialists with Super Bowl tickets, and along with help from Vikings player Marcus Sherels, who tackled Morstead in the moment that led to the rib injury, Morstead gave Super Bowl tickets to a young patient and his family.
He praised the Vikings as a "first class" organization helping with his effort, and noted his Minnesota roots. Morstead's grandfather attended the University of Minnesota, and his father once lived in Duluth.
"I do feel like there is a permanent tie here now, which is really nice," said Morstead.
Morestead hosted several events Friday in Minneapolis. He also brought a fourth grade class from Detroit Lakes to the NFL Super Bowl experience, after the class collectively donated $64 and tweeted a video to Morstead, telling him how his sportsmanship on the field inspired them.
"Every day we seem to have another life lesson we can learn from this story," said Nick Alton, Rossman Elementary fourth grade teacher.
Beyond the money, Morstead is also grateful for the extra education about the little-known department.
“If you go to any hospital, there’s kids suffering. And child life is very underfunded nationally,” Morstead told KARE 11. “It's not about people always putting their money out there and just writing a check or doing a one-time thing. It's to really help educate people about why it's an important part of health care for children. It’s not just some kids that are sick. It’s for their siblings to understand why their brother or sister’s getting needles stuck in them every day. It’s for their families to support them. And how to help their kids emotionally deal with some of the things that they’re going through."
And at the end of the day -- Morstead says giving those children some additional attention and support means delivering a win to the ultimate underdog team.
"I just think it’s important that these kids know they’re not forgotten,” he said.