Tyler Beem being interviewed on Tuesday morning at Lobster Bowl media day at Foxcroft Academy. Photo courtesy of Toby Nelson/Foxcroft Academy
DOVER-FOXCROFT– The Lobster Bowl is about so much more than a football game. Tyler Beem realizes that as much as anyone. Beem’s teammate and classmate Matt Simpson is going through so much more than preparing for a football game.
Simpson is battling cancer and had a stroke earlier this week. When Beem went to visit Simpson last fall, what Beem saw at the hospital made him realize he could do something to help these kids and their families. As part of being selected for the Lobster Bowl each player raises money for the Shriners hospital. Beem has raised over $12000. The total has raised throughout Lobster Bowl training week. As of Tuesday night, the total is $12,332.25.
“My motivation was, I have a friend he has cancer. His name is Matt Simpson. He was in Portland. Me and a couple of friends went down and visited him. There were these kids that were struggling every day of their life. it was October or November, there was this one little girl, they were doing Christmas for her because she wasn’t going to make it,”Beem said. “I am walking around like this, why can’t I raise $12,000 dollars for these kids. I started pretty much as soon as I got home. I set my goal at $10,000. Once I got $10,000, I heard there was a kid who got $11,600, so I said my as well keep going. I went with my dad to a lot of businesses. Some gave 500, some gave 250.”
Beem just graduated high school last month, but he can give a word of advice to people of all ages.
“Some people take it for granted, they walk around like they are big shots. But everybody is human. I have seen what one of my friends has gone through. He is not doing very well right now. He probably won’t even make the weekend,”Beem said. “People are walking around like life is great, there is somebody out there that has it a lot tougher than you.”
The Lobster Bowl participates will continue training at Foxcroft Academy the rest of this week. The game will be played at Thornton Academy on Saturday afternoon at 4 PM.
A go fund me account was set up to help support Matt Simpson’s family. Please click here to donate.
Full interview with Tyler Beem at Lobster Bowl media day.
