NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As part of the NFL's "A Crucial Catch" campaign, the Tennessee Titans hosted their second annual Dining with Hope dinner at the American Cancer Society Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge in Nashville on Monday night. All patients, families, and caregivers staying at the Hope Lodge were invited to the dinner, which also included a Q&A session with Titans players and a prize raffle.
Long snapper Beau Brinkley, punter Brett Kern, and kicker Ryan Succop attended the event and spent time getting to know the Hope Lodge guests over dinner. They also signed autographs and took photos with all in attendance. The evening ended with a Q&A session, and the trio discussed everything from their favorite offseason hobby to their toughest competition in the NFL. Succop's game-winning field goal the day prior in Cleveland was also a hot topic, and the players described to the group how they stay calm during pivotal in-game moments.
"'Fantastic!' is the only way to describe the great time of fellowship and laughter the guests at ACS Hope Lodge had with Ryan, Brett, and Beau," said Hope Lodge Senior Manager Michele Ryan. "Our guests are on a journey that can be very draining, both emotionally and financially, especially after a long day at treatment. What these guys gave to them was an evening to relax, laugh, enjoy a nice meal, and bragging rights that they had dinner with the Tennessee Titans."
The Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge, one of 30 Hope Lodges in the country, offers lodging free of charge to cancer patients and their caregivers while they receive treatment at one of the nearby Nashville hospitals. By reducing the financial burden and providing a community of patients with similar circumstances, the Hope Lodge allows guests to focus solely on their treatment and recovery.
Titans fans also had the opportunity to donate items to the Hope Lodge as part of the "5 and $5 Drive" that was held at Nissan Stadium prior to the Titans vs. Colts game on Monday, October 16. As a result of that collection drive, the Hope Lodge received almost $1,000 in monetary donations and more than 500 much-needed items such as paper towels, coffee, and laundry supplies.
Click HERE to learn more about American Cancer Society Hope Lodges nationwide.
The Titans hosted their second annual Dining with Hope dinner at the American Cancer Society Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge in Nashville. (Photos Kayla Schoen)