The next stop on the club tour was Chicago, IL. Chicago was the first stop on the second half of the tour. A big thank you to the fans for coming out to support the tour! The following local charities/foundations were recipients of support in Chicago. Please see each website for contact information!
One Small Voice
One Small Voice focuses on children with optic nerve hypoplasia (underdevelopment of optic nerve that can cause blindness) and hydrocephalus (pressure from “water in the brain” that causes physical and mental damage and can lead to death). As a charity, it raises funds to support research efforts that benefit children with optic nerve hypoplasia and hydrocephalus and educate and inform others about these disorders. The recipient of the CARE donation is a boy by the name of Zachary Katzbeck.
In 2000, Zachary Katzbeck was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. He was then diagnosed with hypopiturism and optic nerve hypoplasia and then a year later with seizure disorder. Zachary also has autism and is globally developmentally delayed. In his short 11 years with us he has had 26 neurosurgeries, a craniotomy to remove a tumor, countless hospitalizations (as recent as this past weekend) for unexplained episodes of unconsciousness that come with dangerously low heart rates, seizures, visual impairment and daily fights to meet the smallest of milestones. Instead of playing soccer with his friends on the VIP Soccer team this weekend he was in the PICU.
Tyler’s Touch
Tyler's Touch works closely with Children's Memorial Hospital, a leading pediatric cancer treatment facility, to increase the quality of life for patients and their families. The charity provides monetary assistance to families for expenses and health-care costs. It provides resources for a number of initiatives including distributing holiday gifts and holding a Valentine's Day Party for patients. Tyler's Touch was founded in honor of Tyler James Volenec who was diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia (AML) in September of 1998 at the age of two. He dealt with the many challenges created by the disease with courage and a firm resolve to live each day of life to the fullest. After battling the disease for five months, Tyler passed away in February of 1999. The recipient of the CARE donation is a boy by the name of Gregory Homes.
Gregory was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in August of 2010 at the age of fifteen. He went through chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation. He lives with his mom, sister, niece, and nephew. Gregory's mother is on disability and has done a great job of getting him to all his appointments as well as advocating for him at school through his radiation. Throughout the treatment, his mother asked for very little assistance and now she has been trying to catch up with bills and is in need of help. The CARE donation will go far in helping this family.
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