Spillman, Slate visit children's hospital

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Marshall University football players Cody Slate and C.J. Spillman visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Monday.

Slate and Spillman were joined by 20 other Conference USA players in town for the league's football preview.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is known as one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers. Its mission is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.

Founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962, no child is denied treatment at St. Jude.

Slate and Spillman, both preseason All-Conference USA selections, got a first hand look at the work being done at the facility. The players visited with patients and their families and had the opportunity to speak to a St. Jude scientist.

"Its an amazing place to take care of children and their families at no cost when they are facing such a difficult time," Spillman said. "I was impressed with the way they make the place so child-friendly and how everything is geared to keeping the children's spirits so high."

About 4,900 patients are seen annually at St. Jude.

Slate said it wasn't what he expected.

"It was not like any hospital I have ever been to," Slate said. "So many children were playing video games, riding tricycles in the halls. ... the entire environment was phenomenal.

"The work the doctors and researchers do at St. Jude is incredible and so are the kids."

The Thundering Herd players signed autographs and posed for pictures with the children before returning to Huntington.