Kyle Rudolph is becoming a familiar face around the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. The Vikings tight end hosted an early Thanksgiving meal for young patients and their families Nov. 15.
Teammates Sam Bradford, Brandon Fusco and Laquon Treadwell were among Rudolph's guests that also made stops in each room of the children unable to attend the meal.
"For us to come down here and put a smile on a kid's face and make their family's day, especially when they're here during the holidays, it means a ton to us," Rudolph told media during the visit.
On Thursday, Rudolph will show his support for these children and the hospital while on the field with his custom purple cleats covered in the words "Anton Tough" and "Health" next to the Minnesota "M."
Anton is a young boy who suffers from a rare genetic condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa that Rudolph and former Viking John Sullivan have visited over the past few years.
Rudolph is one of at least 12 Vikings that will wear the custom cleats when the team hosts the Dallas Cowboys Thursday to kick off "My Cause, My Cleats" week in the NFL.
The league will loosen its grip on uniform policies for the campaign that encourages players to use their cleats as a canvas to help raise awareness for the foundations they support or a cause they stand by.
According to the NFL, more than 500 players plan to participate in the campaign and many of them have already started showing off the custom shoes on social media.
