Charity Bike Ride
My son, Henry “Hank” Schueler, was diagnosed as an 8th grader with a rare form of “ALL” or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in November of 2006, called Hypodiploid ALL or “HALL”. He treated initially at Childrens Memorial here in Chicago and subsequently underwent a bone marrow transplant beginning on March 9, 2007, his 14th birthday, at Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin. He rebounded quicker than anyone thought possible and graduated with his 8th grade class at St Mary of the Woods that June. He returned as captain of his travel baseball team as well and started high school at St Patrick’s in Chicago in August. Unfortunately he relapsed in September of 2007 and again underwent heavy chemo at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. While his immune system was compromised by the chemo, he contracted a rare and deadly fungal infection called mucormycosis or zygomycosis at the end of September. He was not expected to live but again he rebounded, even returning home to Edgebrook at the end of October. He underwent another bone marrow infusion the day after Thanksgiving in 2007 but his infection returned and he died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage on December 14, 2007.
As a result of his passing, we started a Foundation in his memory, the Henry Schueler 41 & 9 Foundation, to research the cause of his leukemia and to fight the secondary infections that children and others contract when immuno-compromised. We also endowed a scholarship in his name at St Patrick’s High school which is awarded to a baseball or football player who best exemplifies his talent and courage and spirit. Over the last 2 years we have been supported by many friends from the Chicago Fire Department, many of whom knew Hank. In May, 2010 the Chicago Fire Department’s charitable arm, Ignite the Spirit, raised $50,000 for our Foundation with a 941 mile bike ride around Lake Michigan. This incredible effort by 14 riders from the fire department and/or their families over 12 days was largely supported through numerous small fund raisers. Once again our Foundation and Ignite the Spirit will reunite for another bike ride in 2011 to raise much needed funds to continue our efforts to fight pediatric cancer and the secondary infections that attack immuno- compromised patients like Hank. This year we also will donate a portion of our profits to support Ignite the Spirit, which provides financial help to firemen and women and their families in time of need.
We are hoping to raise $200,000 this year through our efforts. But we need help from the business, sports and corporate world to meet this ambitious goal and not just from our friends and neighbors who have already given so much. Currently the ride is scheduled to commence on May 30, 2011 from the Chicago Fire Department Academy in Chicago. It is scheduled to end in St Louis on Saturday, June 4 where the Cubs will be playing the Cardinals. It is our intention to obtain a block of tickets from the Cardinals or MLB for the riders and their family and friends to cheer on the Cubs, and ideally enjoy some welcome recognition for the Foundation and CFD’s efforts from the Cardinal’s baseball organization.
Rich Pinskey, the President of Ignite the Spirit, and I would appreciate the time to speak with you about our partnership and our respective causes in more detail. For the last 3 years, 500 strong have enjoyed a day in the bleachers at Wrigley for a Cubs game to raise money for our Foundation and to remember Hank.
We look forward to meeting with you to discuss our goals to fight pediatric cancer and secondary infections and to provide support to CFD families in need. Thank you in advance. Regards, Matt
Matthew J. Schueler
