Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Bills QB Josh Allen will be entering Highmark Stadium each home game starting Sunday wearing a cap designed by a patient at Oishei Children's Hospital. Those hats will then be auctioned off.
In collaboration with Buffalo’s Oishei Children’s Hospital (OCH) and the Patricia Allen Fund, Allen will wear nine unique 9FORTY® Billustration Team Caps that have been specially customized by OCH patients during the tunnel fit walk at each Bills home game. Recently, the selected OCH patients gathered for a customization party, where they got to design their individual cap for Allen, and were surprised with a special call from Allen himself. Allen was able to thank the OCH patients for designing his caps for the season and spent time hearing all about each custom cap.
During Week One against the Baltimore Ravens, Allen is wearing Jaxson’s cap. Jaxson started his life in the NICU for 44 days at OCH. Eventually, during that time he was diagnosed with Myotonic Dystrophy. He’s had nine different surgeries. Jaxson’s colorful cap features a football around Allen’s Bills logo and a carefully stenciled #17 on the front.
At the start of the game, the cap (Jaxson’s) Allen wore will be auctioned off to the public with proceeds going to the Patricia Allen Fund. Each cap will be signed by Allen and authenticated by the Buffalo Bills. The auction will be live until Tuesday, September 9 at 8:00 PM EST. This will continue for each of the nine Bills home games, correlating with another unique cap and OCH patient. The Patricia Allen Fund benefits the critical care teams at OCH, with 100% of donations directly used for the care of Western New York’s children and families.