As one of the longest-tenured New England Patriots players, center David Andrews remembers attending the "Mayo Bowl" bowling tournament to support veteran player Jerod Mayo and the great work of Boston Medical Center within children's pediatrics.
These days, he's the team captain hosting the annual event, and Mayo is his head coach.
"That's what is really cool to me, is that first it was the Mayo Bowl," Andrews said before his Strikes For Tykes got going in Boston's Seaport neighborhood on Monday.
"Then James White took it over, then it was the McCourty Bowl, and now it's me. I looked up to Jerod and all those players, of course, for their play on the field, but more importantly, what they did off the field and the kind of men they were. So I'm super excited to be back here doing this again this year and it will hopefully be a great night for a good cause."
Especially since having two children of his own, the cause is personal to Andrews.
Despite recently being placed on New England's injured reserve and needing season-ending shoulder surgery, the two-time Super Bowl champion wanted to honor his commitment to the event that has helped raise more than $3.8 million for Boston Medical Center's pediatric care and programming.
Even if that meant he couldn't physically bowl.
"This is such a great community," Andrews said. "When kids get sick, it's very tough, and to have hospitals that are on the very forefront of everything and trying to create new initiatives and be creative in different areas -- it's an important cause to me. BMC does that and I'm proud to support that."
Andrews was joined in Seaport by teammates Hunter Henry, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Antonio Gibson, Bryce Baringer, Joe Cardona, Mike Onwenu, Joey Slye, Michael Jordan, and former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer.
"For one, the team bonding is great for the guys to get together, it doesn't matter if it's the o-line, d-line, punters, kickers, whatever," Andrews said of having his teammates' support.
"Another thing is that it's important for young guys to be part of this because what we do in the community and off the field means a lot to this organization. It was harped on me as a young guy and I think it's just been a huge pillar of this organization."
On Monday, October 7, 2024, teammates, sponsors, family, friends and fans hit the bowling lanes at Kings Dining & Entertainment in Boston's Seaport district, where they raised funds for pediatric care and programs at Boston Medical Center.
Joey Slye and David Andrews at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Jonathan Jones & David Andrews at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
David Andrews at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
David Andrews at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Joe Cardona, Jonathan Jones, Hunter Henry, Michael Jordan, Marcus Jones, David Andrews, Antonio Gibson, Bryce Baringer & Joey Slye at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
David Andrews at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Joe Cardona at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Joey Slye at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Bryce Baringer & Joey Slye at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Bryce Baringer at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Bryce Baringer at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Jonathan Jones at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Jonathan Jones at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Jonathan Jones at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Hunter Henry at Strikes for Tykes on October 7, 2024
Antonio Gibson
