Oct. 16, 2008

DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Davis men's basketball team visited the Northern California Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento on Wednesday to visit with several patients. A total of nine-student athletes and the entire coaching staff took part in the visit, which lasted nearly two hours and included playing video games and cards with the children.

"It truly was one of the most uplifting and inspirational times that I've ever been associated with as part of a collegiate team," said UC Davis head coach Gary Stewart. "There are some extraordinary young people who are going through some difficult challenges, and to see their spirit and their overall outlook for their future was breathtaking. We went with the attitude that we wanted to support them any way we could and left inspired by them."

The Northern California Shriners Hospital is an 80-bed pediatric hospital, research and teaching center providing comprehensive medical, surgical and rehabilitative care to children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. It's the only Shriners Hospital nationwide that provides expert medical care in all four care specialties.

"The other thing that left in indelible mark on the coaching staff and the student-athletes is not only the impressive facility but everybody who is associated with the Shriners and the extraordinary work they do," said Stewart. "It's mind-boggling their commitment to the challenges those young people face."

Wednesday visit was the first to the Shriners Hospital for the UC Davis men's basketball team.