Cincinnati Reds Caravan spread cheer to more than just the fans who came out to the interactive events

For years the Cincinnati Reds Caravan has made it a point to visit hospitals and other charities when they come to town.

With the Cincinnati Reds’ spring off to such a bad start, it seems like a perfect time to review some fun events from the off-season.

The Cincinnati Reds’ iconic broadcaster Marty Brennaman led a group from the Reds Caravan to the Dayton Children’s Hospital.  He used his signature phrases to greet young Reds’ fans at the hospital.  The side trip was filled with conversation among the group and the patients.

The group included Brennaman, Gapper, right fielder Scott Schebler, former Red Dmitri Young, prospect Blake Trahan, television announcer Brian Giesenschlag, and assistant general manager Nick Krall.  The group did its best job in the tough situation of interacting with children in pain.  In addition to this trip, Brennaman also supports the Dragonfly Foundation in Cincinnati.

Some of the patients knew who these men were, but many just had some rough idea.  Gapper seems like the highlight of the group in many ways.  He is a constant to all Reds’ fans and always brings caps wherever he goes.

The Cincinnati Reds Caravan stopped at the Dayton Children’s Hospital at the request of a local teenager.

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Perhaps most relevant, a local high school student named Rosie, appropriately enough, who works to collect toys and games for young patients initiated this trip.  She started the Red Wagon Campaign and convinced the Reds to make the hospital a stop on their Reds Caravan.  Rosie Westerbeck was a patient at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

She remembers receiving a gift blanket that made her feel at home.  During her time there she came up with the idea for the Red Wagon Campaign.  She started the Red Wagon Campaign as a high school freshman.

Trahan and Schebler pulled wagons room to room handing out Reds gear.  This was Schebler’s first turn on the Reds Caravan after coming over in the Todd Frazier deal.  Westerbeck walked along as the players went on their trip.  Every child got something from the interaction.

The group was just happy to brighten up a child’s day.  Westerbeck was happy that the Reds joined her cause.  In addition, Brennaman was happy that the Reds could do something to help young children.

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Often fans forget that the players and other organizational members are more than people who play a game.  Brennaman both has been doing things like this for decades and also continues to do things like this regularly.  Maybe he will finally get his due routinely for doing these types of activities.  It is great to see the rest of the organization take advantage of these opportunities when they arise in any case.