Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon made treatment day a little brighter for Bellin Health cancer patients today, visiting patients and staff before presenting the Bellin Health Cancer Team with a generous $100,000 donation.
The gift, from AJ and his wife Gabrielle, will benefit the Cancer Team and its patients tremendously, and further underscores the ongoing support from the Dillons, said Alicia Caldwell, Bellin Health Team Leader, Oncology and Hematology Services.
“We are incredibly grateful to AJ and Gabrielle for choosing the Cancer Team as their charity of choice, and to AJ for taking the time to visit with our patients during today’s event,” Caldwell said. “From his visits with our patients to his support of the Packers vs. Cancer initiative and now this generous donation, we can’t thank him enough for all he has done for our team and for this cause.”
Dillon has spoken openly about his mother-in-law’s breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and was on hand at the Cancer Team when she had her final treatment in June. Funds from a fantasy football win earlier this year and a charitable partnership with U.S. Venture helped enable the Dillons to make the gift.
“We are so grateful to the Bellin Health Cancer Team for taking such great care of my mother-in-law, and it feels good to be able to give back in this way,” Dillon said. “That said, today was about more than this donation. It meant so much to me to meet with patients, hear their stories and hopefully make treatment day a little brighter for them and their loved ones.”
Dillon’s visit may have been a surprise to patients, but the Cancer Team staff were well prepared — even preparing a special surprise of their own for Dillon when he walked in. Clad in pink Bellin Cancer Team T-shirts bearing AJ’s #28, they presented him with an oversized card expressing their gratitude.
“We can’t thank AJ enough for all he’s done for our patients and team, so we wanted to give a little something back,” said Jordan Rometti, Bellin Health Team Leader, Hematology and Oncology Business Operations. “This was a really special day for us all.”