Rajah Shriners host 75th annual Shrine Pretzel Bowl

Saturday proved to be a perfect day for football in Reading, as the home bleachers of Albright College’s Gene L. Shirk Stadium were enveloped in the warm fall sun. The setting, enhanced by a cool breeze and vibrant autumn hues across Mount Penn, offered an ideal backdrop for the 75th annual Shrine Pretzel Bowl. Since the 1950s, Albright College has participated in this annual contest, which serves as a significant fundraiser for Reading’s Rajah Shrine.

The proceeds from the event directly support Shriners Children, a network of hospitals and health clinics dedicated to providing free care for children across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Local Shriners were present for Saturday’s game, along with two special young participants. The event featured the crowning of 10-year-old Saphara Wertz from Mohrsville as Pretzel Bowl queen and 11-year-old Lennon McMurry of Reading as king. Both youngsters are patients at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia. Greg Lewis, past potentate and director of public relations for the Rajah Shrine, emphasized the importance of the occasion, stating, “Today lets us focus on why we are Shriners.

To see these kids, it’s incredible.” Lewis expressed his appreciation to the participants, acknowledging the profound impact the event has on them.

Saphara, a fifth-grader, enjoys a variety of artistic and physical activities, including painting, coloring, drawing, swimming, and crafting bracelets. She has been receiving treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia since the age of three for arthrogryposis multiplex congevita (AMC), a condition that affects her joints and required the use of leg braces for walking until recently.

Thanks to her treatment, Saphara can now walk and even run independently. Lennon, known for his lively personality, enjoys activities such as watching Dragon Ball Z, eating Chick-fil-A, reading comic books, and playing the saxophone. He has been undergoing treatment for scoliosis at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia for the past year.

While the official amount raised during Saturday’s event has not been disclosed, Greg Lewis noted that the tradition has historically generated over $3 million in funds.