2023 Montana East-West Shrine Game
Patient Ambassador
Gavin Devers
Gavin was born Ap ril 1, 2015,
in Cleveland, Ohio at 40 weeks old. Around 11 months of
age Gavin began to miss age-appropriate
milestones. He couldn’t stand freely without holding on
to something for support.
It was suspected that Gavin may have a physical
disability, as there is a family history of Spinal
Muscular Atrophy.
At 15 months old Gavin
received the diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
His parents were
extremely proactive with Gavin’s care and before he
could walk, he began weekly physical therapy
appointments at the age of 18 months old.
At the age of 22
months old Gavin began to walk with SMO bracing!
The summer of 2018
Gavin and his family moved from Ohio to Montana. Gavin’s
grandfather suggested his parents give Shriners a call
about giving Gavin an even higher level of care. On
March 25th, 2019, Gavin went to Shriners
Children’s Hospital in Spokane, WA for the first time.
He has since made multiple trips to Shriners Children’s
Hospital for care, ranging from multiple sets of braces
to gait analysis.
Gavin is now 8 years old in 2nd
grade in Dillon, Montana. Gavin’s level of care between
Shriners and private physical therapy has changed his
life. His parents were told that he would never run,
jump and would have troubles walking but with the help
of the Shriners he can do it all!!! He has never allowed
anything to stand in his way physically. He absolutely
loves to play sports and is a very active 8-year-old
boy. |
501(c)(3) Tax ID: 81-0241232
"It's
more than a game, it's for the Kids." |
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The rosters for the 76th
Annual Montana East-West Shrine Game will be announced
on Christmas Day; stay tuned. The game will be
played June 17th in Butte, MT. The Montana
Shrine Game is the premier all-star game in Montana and
has a long history of distinguished players and
coaches. It is also one of the oldest high school
all-star football games in America. Every year since
1947, Montana high schools’ finest players are selected
to compete in a game to raise money and to help make the
public aware of the expert orthopedic and burn care
available at the Shriner’s Children's in Spokane,
Washington. Expert care is provided regardless of the
family’s ability to pay. In recent years, the Montana
game is the top high school Shrine Game in the nation
for hospital donations. In the last ten years this game
has raised over $1,000,000. Forty of Montana’s finest
are selected to compete on each team and two players
from Canada will join them, one for the East and one for
the West. The game also features Cheerleaders from
throughout the state who have met a high standard of
excellence at their respective schools.
The players & cheerleaders were nominated by their
schools and coaches across the state, and finally
selected as the “best of the best” to participate in the
76th Montana Shrine Game. They join an elite fraternity
of players & cheerleaders, many of whom have gone on to
distinguished collegiate and professional careers.
E/W
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