Astronaut Clay Anderson Visits Madonna Patients

By: Bill Steckis Email

Posted: Wed 12:25 AM, Oct 05, 2011

"They work so hard and for me to be able to come and say hello and perhaps brighten their spirits and make them work a little harder." -Clay Anderson, NASA

Astronaut Clay Anderson visited a new atmosphere- one that cares for patients in need.

The Ashland native was the keynote speaker for the Madonna Chairman's "Goal Awards" event Tuesday afternoon. Before the speech he took time to visit patients at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln. He encouraged kids and adults as part of the hospital's tour. The man who frequently boarded space shuttles Atlantis and Discovery says this is a new enterprise. "

"It's important to me because these people are so brave and so courageous. They work so hard and for me to be able to come and say hello and perhaps brighten their spirits and make them work a little harder. Today i think it's a very great thing for me to have this opportunity" Anderson said.

This years Goal Award recipients are Michael Burcham, Colby Johnson, Alexandra Umphenour, Aria Prothman and Olivia Greiser.

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