When Jimbo Fisher and his wife, Candi, learned last year that their youngest son, Ethan, has a rare blood disease called Fanconi anemia, they first dealt with the devastating news in private.
Then the Florida State University (FSU) football coach decided to use his visibility in the media to raise awareness of the disease and funding for research at the University of Minnesota, a national leader in bone marrow transplants, used to treat Fanconi anemia.
In March the Fisher family presented the first of many gifts from their Kidz1stFund™—a $500,000 check—to the University of Minnesota researchers they’re supporting. The Fishers were joined at the check presentation by Fanconi anemia physicians John Wagner, M.D., and Margaret MacMillan, M.D.; Minnesota Vikings quarterback and former FSU player Christian Ponder; Rebecca Kill (wife of Gopher football coach Jerry Kill); University first lady Karen Kaler; and University President Eric Kaler, Ph.D.
Read more about the Fishers’ fundraising efforts.
