Former Cincinnati Bengal Boomer Esiason has pledged $1 million, raised in a promotion with Cincinnati Bell, to Children's Hospital Medical Center to help hire a top scientist in pulmonary research.

        The money will pay for the Gunnar Esiason/Cincinnati Bell Research Chair in the Life Sciences. Providing funds for another scientist to conduct basic research into cystic fibrosis will help accelerate work already going on at Children's Hospital, said Dr. Robert Wilmott, director of pulmonary medicine.

Esiason

        No date has been set for hiring the scientist.

        The Esiason family has a personal connection to Children's Hospital. In May 1993, Boomer's son Gunnar was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic lung disease. In 1995, Children's Hospital named its cystic fibrosis outpatient treatment center after Gunnar.

        For several years, the Boomer Esiason Foundation has raised money to fight cystic fibrosis through sales of Boomer's barbecue sauce, golf tournaments and other events. Boomer and his wife, Cheryl, also have served as co-chairs of a fund-raising campaign for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

        More recently, Boomer has begun collaborating with Cincinnati Bell. Cincinnati Bell Wireless, a cellular phone company, donates $2 to the Boomer Esaison Foundation for every new activation.

        Cincinnati Bell Internet donates $1 to the foundation for every new activation on its Zoomtown.com interactive site.

        Gunnar, now 9, continues to receive treatment from Dr. Wilmott and has been doing well with his illness.

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