Nov. 4, 2009

Photo Gallery: UMass Lowell's SAAC Visits Lowell General Hospital for Halloween

When Joan Lehoullier, senior associate director of athletics at UMass Lowell, received the phone call she knew immediately where to turn.

With a several children spending Halloween Weekend in the pediatric center at Lowell General Hospital, Justine DeFronzo, manager of the pediatric center, was wondering if there was anything the Department of Athletics could do.

Lehoullier put it to the University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. "Right away they were excited to go," she said. "Anytime kids are trapped in a hospital this time of year, it's unfortunate."

Eight members of the UMass Lowell's Committee spent part of the day Friday at LGH visiting children. Four members - soccer goalkeeper Ryan Richards, Craig Heatherly of the men's basketball team, cross country/distance runner Sarah Bonomo and softball standout Hilary Hopkins - donned the costumes of characters such as Curious George and Clifford The Dog and the UMass Lowell mascot Rowdy.

Other members of the SAAC distributed gifts, t-shirts and hockey tickets to the children.

UMass Lowell's SAAC members also did a sweep of LGH's emergency room and other areas of the hospital.

"The staff at (LGH) probably had as much fun as the kids did," Lehoullier added. "It was a big hit."