It was a crisp 59 degrees when I hopped out of the black Lincoln Navigator.
With each step I took, my curls bounced, my gown glimmered, my face beamed.
As I got closer to the door, I gazed at the sign above: Gate 14.
The 1,278-day hiatus was over. I had finally returned to Soldier Field – home of the Chicago Bears!
Only this time, it wasn’t for a football game. It was for something more important.
On Saturday, June 4, I attended my third Bears Care Gala. Hosted by the Bears’ non-profit organization, Bears Care, the charity event provided funding for ongoing research to cure breast and ovarian cancer.
Bears Care partners with NorthShore University HealthSystem, Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County and the University of Chicago Medicine.
Individual gala tickets ranged from $750 to $2,000. However, the experience was truly priceless.
Bears coaches, players (past and present) and fans all came out to support the cause. Those in attendance included general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, quarterback Justin Fields and former defensive tackle Anthony “Spice” Adams.
As an avid Bears fan, of course, I jumped at the chance to meet and snap pictures with some of the players.
They were all, unsurprisingly, warm and welcoming, especially the wide receiver who was seated at my table.
Byron Pringle was one of the nicest athletes I’ve ever met. He charmed us all, joining in on the conversations and joking around.
And the former Kansas City Chief even played along when I wanted to strike a non-traditional pose for our photo.
Moreover, those who attended the gala were not the only ones supporting Bears Care that evening. There was a silent auction with items that people at home could also bid on.
Among those items were jerseys signed by Bears quarterback Justin Fields and running back David Montgomery, a Duke football signed by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and baskets full of wine and liquor.
In addition to the silent auction, a live one took place during the dinner program. Various enticing vacation packages were up for grabs – including a trip with Bears linebacker Roquan Smith.
The auction was entertaining, as the bids went as high as $43,000. The whole ordeal left me both wide-eyed and mouth agape. I had never seen anything like it.
With all of the money raised through the formal affair, Bears Care anticipated presenting nearly $700,000 to its medical partners, per Bears writer Larry Mayer.
Thus, exhibiting why “Bears Care” is a fitting name for the organization.