Underscoring their commitment to the military and all who serve and have served, the Los Angeles Rams teamed up with their Official Cruise Line Vacation Partner, Princess Cruises to surprise two deserving individuals at the Rams 2024 Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union.
On Friday, July 26 Los Angeles Rams OT Rob Havenstein and LB Troy Reeder joined Princess Cruises to surprise military veteran Robert "Bobby" Lusher and his family along with Catherine Pegram, Fisher House Foundation volunteer, with a free cruise and tickets to the Rams' Nov. 11 "Salute To Service" home game. Photos and video from the event can be accessed **here** **(**credit Los Angeles Rams).
"Princess Cruises was honored to celebrate the service, selflessness and sacrifices of military veteran Bobby Lusher and Fisher House volunteer Kay Pegram with a cruise vacation, said Princess Cruises Vice President Entertainment Denise Saviss.
This marked the second consecutive Training Camp that Princess Cruises and the Los Angeles Rams have teamed up to surprise deserving military families with a free cruise and Rams game tickets.
"We are grateful to build on our partnership with Princess Cruises and give back to those who have served our country and support our service men and women," said Los Angeles Rams Chief Commercial Officer Jennifer Prince. "As we continue to partner with purpose, it is an honor to recognize these individuals and their families alongside Princess Cruises and we look forward to welcoming Robert and Catherine to the Rams House on November 11 as part of our Salute To Service game."
Lusher served eight active years in the Army National Guard and Navy, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lusher has three children, Lucas, Jacob and Robby, with his wife, Ann. Ann was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2022 and he served as Ann's fulltime caregiver. Lusher has been committed to supporting Ann while continuing to work full-time as a firefighter during her treatment that consisted of 24 rounds of chemotherapy and numerous surgeries. During Ann's battle, Lusher was diagnosed with stage three kidney cancer. Finding out Lusher had another battle to fight, he was hospitalized for two months before finally being able to return home. He receives immunotherapy treatment every three weeks for his Stage 3 Kidney Cancer.
Since September of 2023, Fisher House enabled the Lusher family to be close to their doctors and gave them a home away from home. They are grateful to Fisher House and their family and friends who provide strength, support and faith.
Pegram has a long standing connection to the military. Her father was a Navy Veteran who served in World War II in the Pacific. Her Aunt served in the Women's Auxiliary during WWII. She has been a dedicated supporter of the Greater Los Angeles Fisher House since 2017. She was so moved by the respect shown to her aunt that it inspired her to become a volunteer with military families. Pegram's background in marketing and writing has enhanced Fisher House's internal projects and annual review of guest feedback through surveys. She has volunteered over 700 hundred hours over seven years.
Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. These homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans' families an estimated $575 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses, and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
The Rams continue to place an emphasis on being collaborative partners in the educational space to close the opportunity gap for students in under-resourced areas. For more information about the Rams' community outreach efforts, visit www.therams.com/community.
