Tar Heels Make Annual Burn Center Visit
October 22, 2014 | Football, Carolina Outreach
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - More than 35 UNC student-athletes participated in this year's Touchstone Energy UNC Burn Center Visit on Friday afternoon. The annual visit to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center is a highlight on the Carolina Outreach calendar, bringing together members of a variety of teams to visit one of UNC's outstanding health care facilities and get the chance to help brighten the patients' days.
After meeting at Kenan Football Center, members of the football, women's soccer, track and field, rowing and wrestling teams made the short walk to UNC Hospitals. Before meeting patients, the group heard from Dr. Anthony Meyer, the chair of UNC's Department of Surgery, and from Dr. Bruce Cairns, who serves as director of the Burn Center. The student-athletes then went room-to-room to deliver posters and Carolina wristbands along with words of greeting and encouragement.
"It was very eye-opening," said Austin Proehl, a freshman on the football team. "You really get to see and get a feel for what goes on there. It was a great experience.
"My favorite part of the visit was seeing the patient's face when you walk in to visit them. You don't realize how much it means to them until you start talking to them and show how much you care about them, even though you're just getting to know them."
The 36-bed facility is one of the few in the nation that is American Burn Center Association verified for adult and pediatric care. Since its opening in 1981, the center has saved hundreds of lives and restored thousands of children and adults to lives of health and productivity. The center also has helped to advance knowledge of burn care and rehabilitation, and has made an impact on burn treatment and prevention across the state through education and outreach programs.
"At Carolina, our student-athletes do an outstanding job making a positive difference in our community," said Senior Associate Athletic Director Rick Steinbacher, who went along on the visit. "Thirty-eight student-athletes from several teams took time out of their busy schedules on Friday to visit with the patients, doctors and staff at the UNC Burn Center. The patients enjoyed an uplifting visit, while the student-athletes witnessed first-hand the positive perseverance shown by the patients during some very challenging times. As always, we were all so impressed by the amazing work of the UNC Burn Center, serving people in a time of great need."
For more information on the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, click here.
This annual event was a special occasion, but spending Fridays at the hospital is routine for the Tar Heels. The football team visits on the day before each home game. "I think it's important because you realize how blessed you are to be in the position that we as student-athletes are in," Proehl said. "To visit with the children or the adults, it can change their day around and having that kind of impact on someone's life can be incredible. I think it's a great opportunity each and every week."
