With four losses in their last five games, plus off-the-field issues with former MVP Adrian Peterson and other players, there has been a dark shadow blanketing the Minnesota Vikings. But a bright spot appeared Wednesday in the form of a heartwarming story involving a local Twin Cities family and Vikings backup quarterback Christian Ponder.
WCCO’s John Lauritsen reports Ponder and his wife Samantha, an ESPN broadcaster, were shopping at a local Lululemon store when a family of three came in to do some shopping of their own.
The family – father Justin Robbins, along with daughters Brianna, 9 and Emily, 8 – was shopping there in honor of the girls’ mother Maggie, who died a car accident earlier this month.
Brianna recognized the Vikings quarterback, and after hearing the family’s story, the Ponders picked up the bill – anything the Robbins’ wanted in the store.
Justin let his daughters pick out one outfit, which was professionally tailored for the girls.
“We really, really want to thank the Ponders and what a great man. Samantha is a great person and Christian is a great man,” Justin told Lauritsen. “It was a great day, it really helped us out.”
Be sure to watch the story from Lauritsen below.
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A fundraiser for the Robbins’ will be held Oct. 25 at the Bloomington North Lifetime Fitness. Details about how to help are right here. The event page describes Maggie as such:
“Maggie was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She was kind and compassionate to a fault; we will miss her humor, her smile, her laugh, her genuine compassion and love she gave to everyone she met.”
In a Facebook post, Justin said his daughters were naturals on camera.
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In an unrelated act of kindness, current Vikings Everson Griffen and Chad Greenway, along with former Viking E.J. Henderson visited Fargo North High School on Tuesday. According to Viking Update, the school was awarded for their outstanding work in concussion awareness.
