Fresno State Athletics
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Photo by: Aimee Sabado
'Dogs spend afternoon at Valley Children's Hospital
7/28/2026 6:00:00 PM | Football
MADERA, Calif. - More than 30 members of the Fresno State Football team visited patients and families at Valley Children's Hospital on Tuesday, including the entire freshman class and a handful of returning players. The Bulldogs spent some time bedside with patients, did some arts & crafts, played a variety of games and a few rounds of bingo.
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For the Bulldogs, this was an opportunity to get out into the community before the start of fall camp next week. Fresno State plays inside Valley Children's Stadium on game days, so the name is familiar to all, but being on-site with the patients creates a memory for both sides.
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"Our stadium is Valley Children's Stadium, so I wanted to dive a little deeper into that relationship," said senior defensive lineman Merhauti Xepera. "This is my first time being here. Seeing some of the patients, it reminds me of who we are playing for when we go out on that field. It is a pleasure to be here."
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The visit is part of Valley Children's longstanding partnership with Fresno State and reflects a shared commitment to supporting the community. For patients and families, visits from student-athletes can provide a welcome distraction and a source of encouragement during a hospital stay.
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For the players, the experience offered an opportunity to connect with young patients and give back to the community.
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"For me, it puts into perspective not to take anything for granted," said freshman running back Jhadis Luckey. "Everybody has a life, but everybody's life is different. A lot of these kids have been through things that not a lot of us have been through. They are some of the strongest people I will ever meet. They have been through a lot of hard life situations, and are overcoming them. Us, we are just blessed to be able to play football."
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As Fresno State Football wraps up its freshman summer bridge program, the Bulldogs' newest student-athletes head into fall training camp with a better feel for what's ahead. The program is designed to prepare incoming freshmen for every aspect of college life, offering sessions on financial literacy and budgeting, resume building, mental health, nutrition, academics, and navigating the evolving NIL landscape. Along the way, they learn how to balance the demands of being a Division I student-athlete while building habits for long-term success. The experience culminates with a visit to Valley Children's, where the freshmen give back to the community and embrace what it means to represent Fresno State.
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Fresno State opens up fall camp in one week, and officially kicks off the season at USC on Sept. 4. Tickets are available here.
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For the Bulldogs, this was an opportunity to get out into the community before the start of fall camp next week. Fresno State plays inside Valley Children's Stadium on game days, so the name is familiar to all, but being on-site with the patients creates a memory for both sides.
Â
"Our stadium is Valley Children's Stadium, so I wanted to dive a little deeper into that relationship," said senior defensive lineman Merhauti Xepera. "This is my first time being here. Seeing some of the patients, it reminds me of who we are playing for when we go out on that field. It is a pleasure to be here."
Â
The visit is part of Valley Children's longstanding partnership with Fresno State and reflects a shared commitment to supporting the community. For patients and families, visits from student-athletes can provide a welcome distraction and a source of encouragement during a hospital stay.
Â
For the players, the experience offered an opportunity to connect with young patients and give back to the community.
Â
"For me, it puts into perspective not to take anything for granted," said freshman running back Jhadis Luckey. "Everybody has a life, but everybody's life is different. A lot of these kids have been through things that not a lot of us have been through. They are some of the strongest people I will ever meet. They have been through a lot of hard life situations, and are overcoming them. Us, we are just blessed to be able to play football."
Â
As Fresno State Football wraps up its freshman summer bridge program, the Bulldogs' newest student-athletes head into fall training camp with a better feel for what's ahead. The program is designed to prepare incoming freshmen for every aspect of college life, offering sessions on financial literacy and budgeting, resume building, mental health, nutrition, academics, and navigating the evolving NIL landscape. Along the way, they learn how to balance the demands of being a Division I student-athlete while building habits for long-term success. The experience culminates with a visit to Valley Children's, where the freshmen give back to the community and embrace what it means to represent Fresno State.
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Fresno State opens up fall camp in one week, and officially kicks off the season at USC on Sept. 4. Tickets are available here.
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