A hall-of-fame football player turned beef producer is asking our listeners to help out with a special event at Camp Randall in May. Joe Thomas should be a name you recognize either from his time as an All-American Wisconsin Badger or his 11 seasons as a left tackle with the Cleveland Browns. Or maybe you’re familiar with him as a beef producer.
What started as a quiet retirement plan in the Driftless has evolved into a mission to fight blood cancer. Thomas is supporting Blood Cancer United leading up to the Big Climb at Camp Randall Stadium on May 16.
Since purchasing his farm in 2012, Thomas has seen his hobby grow from five cows to a thriving agriculture business. Now, he is leveraging that success for philanthropy. For every pack of jerky sold through his online store, $5 goes directly to blood cancer research. The initiative culminates on May 16 with Big Climb Wisconsin. Participants gather at Camp Randall Stadium to raise money by climbing the iconic steps.
The challenge is more than just a workout. Thomas explains that it’s a tribute to the grueling grit required in both sports and recovery. Reflecting on his days as a Wisconsin Badger, he recalls the intensity of training on those very same bleachers.
“When you go through hard things together, and you pull together, and you find a way to overcome the obstacles and go beyond where you think was possible, I think it brings a lot more out of you.”
Beyond the physical challenge, the mission emphasizes the connection between farming and human health. The Hall of Fame team hopes to educate the public on using food as “fuel” while supporting those facing a cancer diagnosis.
“True happiness and purpose in life is a lot about like, what can I do to be of service to people around me, friends, family, my community… how do I give back?” Thomas says when asked what inspired him to get involved.
Register for Big Climb Wisconsin: https://pages.lls.org/bigclimb/wi/bigclimbwisconsin26
Learn more about Hall of Fame Meats: https://halloffamemeats.com/
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