LEWISTON — The Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl kicked off its 25th year with its annual team meeting  on Sunday, so Tim Luttrell really wanted to make a big impression on the dozens of players and cheerleaders participating in this year’s game.

Luttrell, a member of the Springfield Shriners Hospital for Children Board of Governors and former Lobster Bowl chairman, knew exactly who to call.

Dan Caro’s triumph-over-tragedy story, presented in the form of a short video narrated by his father, demonstrated the purpose of the annual all-star game, to be held on July 19 at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford — raising money for the 22 Shriners Hospitals for children across North America.

Caro’s presence behind a drum kit and on the microphone immediately after the video inspired the players and cheerleaders to make the children the game benefits, not the game itself, their top priority before they report to training camp in mid-July.

Caro, 34, is an accomplished drummer now living in San Francisco. But at the age of 2, he suffered third and fourth-degree burns over 80 percent of his body due to a gas explosion in his family’s garage. His lungs, skin and hands were scorched, and he died three times on the operating table.

But with care from the Shriners Hospitals, including 80 operations up to the age of 19, he recovered, became a husband and step-father, played drums for legendary musicians such as Carlos Santana, and now travels all over the country to tell his story.

The healing provided by the Shriners Hospitals goes far beyond the physical, Caro said.

“They don’t just fix you. It’s like they give you something that you didn’t even have before,” Caro said after wowing the crowd with his drum playing. “They instill a value in you. They allow you to see yourself from an inner perspective, rather than what you see in the mirror.”

“When you go out on that field…” he added, “do it with such pride to know that your efforts will help save lives and put the spirit, the passion and purpose into children’s lives.”

In the game’s history, 2,500 players, cheerleaders and coaches have raised net proceeds totaling over $500,000 for the hospitals.

For participants, who rightfully see the Lobster Bowl as Maine’s premier all-star showcase and acknowledgment of a great high school career, the annual meeting always drives home the game’s true meaning.

“Thinking about all of the past players that have played here, it’s great to be able to step in and kind of fill that role,” said Poland running back Everett Bertrand, a member of the West team. “To be the next player honored to play and to fundraise money for the kids is really what it’s all about. Watching the video for the Kora Shrine, that really got to me. I never really realized what it was about until then.”

“Coming here, I really didn’t have a good idea what this was really all about,” said Abby Madden of Lewiston, an East cheerleader. “Having Dan come up, seeing the video and then all of a sudden he’s there talking to us, I thought that was really special. And it really puts things into perspective.”

Over the next few weeks, participants will fan out across the state to start fundraising by collecting donations and selling ad space in the game program.

Several other events tied to the game are also on the horizon. The Maine Games will hold its auditions for the National Anthem singer at the Kora Shrine on April 19. Registration for the annual Lobster Bowl Punt, Pass and Kick competition opens May 24. On June 1, registration opens for the annual Lobster Bowl Classic golf tournament at Turner Highlands on July 12.

Local Lobster Bowl participants:

East players and cheerleaders

Edward Little: Jeff Clark

Lewiston: Jacob Kendall, Elizabeth Fundis Abby Madden

Mt. Blue: Colin Richards, Nikki Osborne

Oxford Hills: Ethan Edwards, Samantha Brown, Lyndsey Day, Amanda Foster, Ashley O’Neil

West players and cheerleaders

Dirigo: Jack Brown, Hannah Dorion

Gray-New Gloucester: Tyler Hicks

Leavitt: Nate Coombs, Levi Morin, Matt Powell, Alexia Barcelou

Lisbon: Quincy Thompson,

Mountain Valley: Anthony Boucher, Kelsie Blanchard

Oak Hill: Bayley Beaulieu, Luke Washburn, Tabby Riendeau

Poland: Everett Bertrand, Katie Young

Spruce Mountain: Tristan Castonguay, Brooke Steele

Telstar: Austin Ryerson

Winthrop: Brandon Goff

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