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For those Broncos fans that don't feel the need to hate Cutler
EVANSVILLE — Rebecca Winsett had practiced her lines over and over again for her meeting with pro football star Jay Cutler before the Chicago Bears' Dec. 4 home game.
Winsett, a nurse scientist at St. Mary's Medical Center, knew she would have to make a strong case if she was going to persuade Cutler to help fund the Tri-State's first diabetes-focused camp for children. She would weave into her spiel the fact that the Bears quarterback is a native of Santa Claus, Ind. Cutler would need no reminding that he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes in 2008, but that didn't mean Winsett couldn't mention it.
But when Cutler spotted Winsett and a delegation of children and YMCA officials at Soldier Field, he never gave her a chance.
Instead, he gave her a large replica of a $25,000 check from the Jay Cutler Foundation. The money will help St. Mary's and YMCA Camp Carson start a new summer camp for children ages 9-12 who have been diagnosed with Type I diabetes.
The camp will be held June 10-15 at Camp Carson in Princeton, Ind.
"He walked right up to us and said, 'Hey kids! How's your blood sugar? Guess what! I understand you want a camp.' And that's when he came out with that great big check," Winsett said, chuckling.
Winsett was in Chicago with Mark Scoular, Camp Carson's executive director of. They were accompanied by teenagers from a diabetes camp in Mississippi, where Winsett has volunteered for more than 25 years, and some area children. They were guests of Cutler's Chicago-based foundation, which states it is "dedicated to improving the quality of life for underprivileged children and those suffering from diabetes."
Winsett and Scoular had decided to approach the Jay Cutler Foundation, believing they might get an entree to the star quarterback because of his own diagnosis and because his sister, Joy, had once worked at Camp Carson.
Foundation officials advised them to come to the Bears' Dec. 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the idea would get a hearing. But Cutler's gift removed all the stress from the pre-game confab.
Cutler, who has missed the past four Bears games while recovering from thumb surgery, didn't play that day. The 28-year-old former Heritage Hills High School star, who is six years into his NFL career, suffered a broken thumb during a Nov. 20 game against the San Diego Chargers.
Scoular said supporters hope to attract 40 children to this summer's diabetes camp, for which nurses and doctors will be available.
"In school they're often the only child in the class and, in many cases, the only child in their school dealing with that," he said. "So for one week, they're going to be around 40 other kids who get it and understand."
Winsett and Scoular hope Cutler will show up at the camp, a development they believe would help guarantee its future in Southwestern Indiana.
The football star is willing to come, Scoular said.
"When I was in Chicago, I was standing right with him, and we said, 'We hope you'll be able to come down,'" Scoular said. "He said, schedule permitting, he hoped to be able to make it."
Winsett, a nurse scientist at St. Mary's Medical Center, knew she would have to make a strong case if she was going to persuade Cutler to help fund the Tri-State's first diabetes-focused camp for children. She would weave into her spiel the fact that the Bears quarterback is a native of Santa Claus, Ind. Cutler would need no reminding that he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes in 2008, but that didn't mean Winsett couldn't mention it.
But when Cutler spotted Winsett and a delegation of children and YMCA officials at Soldier Field, he never gave her a chance.
Instead, he gave her a large replica of a $25,000 check from the Jay Cutler Foundation. The money will help St. Mary's and YMCA Camp Carson start a new summer camp for children ages 9-12 who have been diagnosed with Type I diabetes.
The camp will be held June 10-15 at Camp Carson in Princeton, Ind.
"He walked right up to us and said, 'Hey kids! How's your blood sugar? Guess what! I understand you want a camp.' And that's when he came out with that great big check," Winsett said, chuckling.
Winsett was in Chicago with Mark Scoular, Camp Carson's executive director of. They were accompanied by teenagers from a diabetes camp in Mississippi, where Winsett has volunteered for more than 25 years, and some area children. They were guests of Cutler's Chicago-based foundation, which states it is "dedicated to improving the quality of life for underprivileged children and those suffering from diabetes."
Winsett and Scoular had decided to approach the Jay Cutler Foundation, believing they might get an entree to the star quarterback because of his own diagnosis and because his sister, Joy, had once worked at Camp Carson.
Foundation officials advised them to come to the Bears' Dec. 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the idea would get a hearing. But Cutler's gift removed all the stress from the pre-game confab.
Cutler, who has missed the past four Bears games while recovering from thumb surgery, didn't play that day. The 28-year-old former Heritage Hills High School star, who is six years into his NFL career, suffered a broken thumb during a Nov. 20 game against the San Diego Chargers.
Scoular said supporters hope to attract 40 children to this summer's diabetes camp, for which nurses and doctors will be available.
"In school they're often the only child in the class and, in many cases, the only child in their school dealing with that," he said. "So for one week, they're going to be around 40 other kids who get it and understand."
Winsett and Scoular hope Cutler will show up at the camp, a development they believe would help guarantee its future in Southwestern Indiana.
The football star is willing to come, Scoular said.
"When I was in Chicago, I was standing right with him, and we said, 'We hope you'll be able to come down,'" Scoular said. "He said, schedule permitting, he hoped to be able to make it."
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