Michael’s Super Bowl Adventure

Each year, Team Gleason sends a few people with ALS on an extraordinary adventure to the Super Bowl. With the help of Jon Glass at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, Team Gleason was connected to Michael Boland, who is living with ALS. Michael, his wife Louann, and son Candler are avid football fans, so they were perfect candidates for a Super Bowl experience.

Thanks to gracious donors, Team Gleason was able to also send Michael and his family to a private pre-party hosted by the NFL. Michael said a highlight of this event was seeing one of his favorite artists, Martina McBride, perform. Before the game, they had exclusive sideline passes to watch both teams warm up. To add to those moments, witnessing the Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the stadium during the National Anthem was special to Michael and he was fortunate to meet the pilots after the game and take a picture.

Although the game was not as competitive as they hoped, Michael and his family, who are University of Georgia football fans, were thrilled when former Georgia player Sony Michel scored the only touchdown of the game!  

And for a final bonus, the family had access to the field after the game for the winning celebration. They saw celebrities like Gisele Bundchen (Tom Brady’s wife) and Rob Gronkowski. Michael said “this trip was very memorable for me and my family.  I’m so blessed to have this experience.”

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