Hero

I would like to introduce you to a brave and inspirational young man, my son, Matthew.  He was just 13 years old, but he made more of an impact in his 13 years here on this Earth than most people make in a full lifetime.

Matthew was “all boy”.  He loved spending time with his family and friends and playing video games.  He excelled in school, was active on Student Council, and played the trumpet in his school’s band and jazz band.  Then, on March 13, 2012, our world was turned upside down when Matthew was diagnosed with ETP-ALL leukemia.

Our family was thrust into another world, one where terms like hemoglobin, blast cells, platelets, and ANC were common in our everyday language.  We had to learn to live with a “new normal”.  We were told that Matthew’s form of leukemia was a more aggressive and rare type of cancer, requiring a bone marrow transplant once the cancer cells were under control.

He underwent chemotherapy and radiation.  A horrific and unimaginable experience, especially for a child.

Once Matthew got to bone marrow transplant things became progressively worse.  He suffered from stage 4 graft vs. host disease and just about every complication that can be had from a bone marrow transplant.  He was placed on a ventilator three times and had large, painful blisters over the majority of his body.

Bravery isn’t judged by the size of the person, but by the size of his heart.

Through it all, Matthew remained strong and positive in his attitude.  He never once asked “why me” or questioned what was happening.  He was always polite, thanking the nurses and the doctors who were helping him in his treatments.  He even prayed for other children who were going through treatments and transplant just like he was.

As a parent, my heart was breaking.  No child should ever have to go through radiation or chemotherapy.  No child should ever be exposed to the type of situation that my son and many other children must face every day.  Yet, Matthew helped me to be strong, to have faith, and to always find the good in things. Even as his physical condition was getting worse, he always had a smile on his face and love to give.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, September 23, 2012, Matthew went from his Mother’s arms into the arms of Jesus.  His courageous battle was finished.The lives that Matthew touched will never be the same.  He taught us to laugh through the tears, to be strong when you feel there is no strength left, to be brave when inside you are shaking with fear, and to put your trust in things unseen.

I miss the laughter, the smiles, and the happiness that once filled my life.  A precious young man is gone to Heaven, but not forgotten.

The other day I saw a photo in support of childhood cancer awareness…it says, “Some people never get to meet their hero.  I gave birth to mine.”  Those words have never been more true…

We miss you.

Hello, Fellow Travelers, 

***

We agree. Happy 30th Anniversary, John! Thank you for everything that you have done to help our kids!

with gratitude and hope,

~The MACC Fund Staff

John Cary-Thanks for 30 years!

Consistency is an important trait for any successful person, no matter what the field.  On the football field, Aaron’s consistency clearly stood out.  One need only look at his 45 touchdown to 6 interception ratio to see that. Packers’ fans remember that two of those interceptions could have easily been completions as well.  His consistency is also readily apparent off the field and the MACC Fund has been the grateful recipient of Aaron’s consistency. 

Aaron has indeed been “in it for the long haul” and lots of children battling cancer and blood disorders want to “high five” him for it.  Their visits to the Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Clinics at the outstanding Children’s Hospitals in Milwaukee and Madison offer a moment to look at a Packers’ helmet which Aaron autographed for each clinic.  They also can smile when they look at the autographed and personalized picture with his newfound friend Mickey Mouse taken during his whirlwind visit to Mickey’s home in Florida the day after he was named MVP in Super Bowl XLV last year.  Children treated in the Clinics, their families and dedicated caregivers say they take solace in knowing that Aaron Rodgers is on the MACC Fund team that is giving “Hope Through Research.” 

Lots of children helped by the MACC Fund also have autographed pictures with personalized notes from Aaron encouraging them.  Consistency is one of the hallmarks of a champion.  Aaron Rodgers is a champion with the MACC Fund for kids battling cancer and blood disorders.  Now he is the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.  He has been a MACC Fund MVP for the past two years during which he has played an important role in helping to raise over $400,000 for life-saving research.  Everyone associated with the MACC Fund – especially the children and their families – are glad that Aaron Rodgers is “in it for the long haul.”  Congratulations on another MVP title, Aaron.  It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.           

John Cary, Executive Director

Some members of the golf world are asking the question “Is Mark Wilson the most underrated golfer on the Tour?”  We will let that debate to the folks who know what they are talking about, but in the eyes of the MACC Fund, he is our favorite player on the Tour – for good reason.  One of the first things that Mark did when he joined the Tour in 2004 was to create a program with his friend and then marketing/business manager, Eddie Erkmanis, called “Making a Mark Fore MACC.” 

A mathematics major at the University of North Carolina where he was an All-American and won the Ben Hogan Award for the sport’s top student athlete in 1997, Mark and his wife Amy have donated $220,000 to the MACC Fund through this program.  They give a donation for every “cut” he makes and more for every Top 10, 20 and 30 finish.  Their gifts have ranged from $5,000 in 2004 to $40,000 in 2011, his record year on the Tour where he won two tournaments and had three Top 10 finishes.  Mark and Amy have given more to the MACC Fund than any other athlete in the MACC Fund’s 35-year history.

It is easy to see why he is the MACC Fund’s favorite on Tour and a valued member of the MACC Fund’s Honorary Athletic Board.  In addition to his great program, he is also the Honorary Chairman of the Lake Country Charity Invitational featuring many of the area’s finest high school teams.  Sponsored by Hartland’sArrowheadHigh Schoolunder the watchful eye of tournament director Tom Tallmadge, the school’s legendary former golf coach, the Invitational will be played atErinHillson April 28.ErinHillshosted the U.S. Men’s Amateur in 2011 and will host the U.S. Open in 2017.  Despite a busy Tour schedule, Mark always makes time to play a round in the summer with some of the Invitational’s top fund-raising teams never forgetting his days as a high school golfer for Wisconsin Lutheran High School where he was a state champion as a freshman.

Congratulations and thanks to Mark and Amy and your great family.  Thanks for taking the MACC Fund along on the Tour and thanks for your “Gift of Hope through Golf.”

John Cary, Executive Director  

Greatness is oftentimes measured by wins and losses in sports.  In the case of Jerry Petitgoue, you can  easily measure his greatness in this way. Tonight his Cuba City basketball team will take the court in their holiday tournament against River Ridge (Illinois) High School.  Every coach will tell you that every game is important.  Secretly, they will tell you that some are special.  Tonight’s Cuba City game is one of those games.  A victory will mean that Jerry will have coached his 800^th win in his 44 years as a head high school varsity coach in Wisconsin.  Forty of those years have been at Cuba    City which he helped make into a perennial powerhouse.  The “winningest” coach in state high school history, Jerry has a record of 799-199.  Tomorrow night’s holiday tournament game will be his 1,000 game as a head varsity coach.

The MACC Fund has many friends whose commitment to helping the children is inspirational.  Some of them are legendary in their career accomplishments as well.  Jerry Petitgoue is one of those. Watching his team win his 799^th game on Monday against a fine Sheboygan Lutheran team was thrilling.  You can rest assured that there will be lots of children helped by the MACC Fund – thanks to its friends like Jerry Petitgoue and the WBCA – who will be there in spirit tonight along with the extended MACC Fund family as Cuba City goes for #800 for Coach Petitgoue.

Good luck Coach! And “Thanks a Million” to you and the other fine WBCA members for the “Gift of Hope Through High School Hoops” to the MACC Fund.

John Cary, Executive Director

Tonight is a special night.  It is the 35^th Annual Bucks MACC Fund Game tonight as the Bucks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the BradleyCenter in the Bucks only preseason home game. The previous 34 games have raised $1.3 million for the MACC Fund’s fight against childhood cancer and blood disorders.

Many know that the MACC Fund started during a Bucks game 35 years ago when Jon McGlocklin’s number was retired.  Jon and his good friend and Bucks broadcaster, Eddie Doucette, teamed up to help kids like Karen and Eddie’s son Brett who was diagnosed with leukemia as a two-year-old.  Since then, Brett became the MACC Fund’s first “success story,” is married and lives in Arizona.  In addition, the MACC Fund has contributed $41 million to pediatric cancer and blood disorder research in Wisconsin offering Hope for children with cancer throughout the country and the world. The MACC Fund has played an important role in helping the overall cure rate for childhood cancer to rise from 20% to 80% in the past 35 years. 

The Bucks have been with the MACC Fund every step of the way and events like the Bucks MACC Fund Game have contributed to that impressive cure rate success. Once again this year, the Bucks have donated hundreds of tickets to the game for the children, their families, caregivers and dedicated MACC Fund volunteers.

The Bucks always give the children helped by the MACC Fund a chance to be part of the fun. Ten-year-old Jack Bartosz and his twin sister Annie will present the game ball. Jack designed the TODAY’S TMJ4 MACC*Star.  He has battled cancer for more than half of his life. Ten children helped by the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin will line up with each starting player.  They will get a signed ball from that player as a great memento of a great night.  Imagine how excited they are!   

Some of these children got to meet the Bucks during the team’s annual visit to Children’s Hospital and the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders on Monday.  Despite the abbreviated preseason, Coach Scott Skiles wanted to make sure this great holiday tradition continued proving once again the commitment the Bucks have to helping the MACC Fund help kids.  As I said, the Bucks have been with the MACC Fund every step of the way.

Don’t forget, value-priced tickets will be available until Tip Off.  We hope to see you there.  

Thanks for helping the MACC Fund help kids battling cancer and blood disorders.

Happy Holidays and Go Bucks!

John Cary, Executive Director

We invite our friends in the Milwaukee television market to join with our wonderful friends from TODAY’S TMJ4 from 7 – 9 p.m. tonight as we celebrate the TODAY’S TMJ4 Sports Auction 4 MACC. This is the 31st consecutive year of live broadcast specials from the great folks at TODAY’S TMJ4. This is virtually unpredented in the Milwaukee market and likely around the country as well. Thanks TODAY’S TMJ4 and the generous Journal Broadcast Group. This is also the 30th consecutive year that Sargento Foods of Plymouth, Wis. is a generous MACC Fund broadcast sponsor.  Special thanks as well to Sargento.

Tonight’s show will end at about the same time the MACC Fund was beginning 35 years earlier. That “tip-off” ceremony in 1976 took place on the Milwaukee Arena floor honoring the retirement of Jon McGlocklin from the Milwaukee Bucks.  Jon and his dear friend and Bucks broadcaster Eddie Doucette co-founded the MACC Fund to help children like Eddie and Karen Doucette’s son Brett who was battling leukemia.  Thanks to Jon and Eddie and their wonderful wives Pam and Karen for daring to dream.  The MACC Fund’s first “success story,” Brett Doucette, is now married and works for a Children’s Hospital in Arizona.  The Bucks have been a steadfast partner under the generous ownership of Jim Fitzgerald until 1985 and Senator Herb Kohl ever since then.  Bucks Vice President John Steinmiller has been a MACC Fund standard bearer from Day One. 

The 35th annual Bucks MACC Fund Game will be Wed. Dec. 21 at the Bradley Center at 7 p.m. vs the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Visit www.bucks.com for tickets. Go Bucks and Thanks Bucks!

We hope you will join us tonight on TODAY’S TMJ4 from 7 – 9 p.m. as we celebrate a “Gift of Hope” which has generated over $40 million of research contributions in Wisconsin playing an important role in helping to raise the overall global cure rate for childhood cancer from 20% to 80% during the 35-year life of the MACC Fund.    

Please consider making your Gift of Hope at www.maccfund.org

Thanks for caring for children with cancer and blood disorders and thanks for helping the MACC Fund help kids for the past 35 years.

Gratefully,

John Cary, Executive Director

Summer gives way to autumn and more exciting MACC Fund events. Packers fans can’t wait for the September 8 kickoff of the NFL season when the Super Bowl Champions take on the 2010 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. Friends of the MACC Fund will be cheering for the Green and Gold and its fine quarterback Aaron Rodgers who has embraced the children and the MACC Fund with the same passion he attacks opposing defenses.

Saturday, Sept. 10 will be “Christopher’s Shoot Against Childhood Cancer” at the Waukesha Gun Club in honor of a young boy who has captured the hearts of many. September 11 will find car enthusiasts driving to 6514 S. Lovers Lane in Franklin for “Gus’ Mexican Cantina MACC Fund Car Show.”

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s impressive CEO, Peggy Troy, told the MACC Fund’s board that the MACC Fund was the hospital’s biggest donor at the Fund’s 2010 annual meeting. The MACC Fund is proud to be part of the team in the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital. As a friend and partner of Children’s Hospital, we encourage you to sign up for the 34th annual Briggs and Al’s Run / Walk for Children’s Hospital on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 to help advance the care of all kids. The fun starts on Marquette’s campus at 10:30 and ends on the lakefront. Visit http://www.alsrun.com/home.htm to learn more.

Friends will celebrate the life of Cheri Amore through “Clip for a Cure” to benefit the Cheri Amore Memorial and the MACC Fund at Pier West in Twin Lakes on Sunday, Sept. 18.

Sat. Sept. 24 will be a busy day with two events. First thing in the morning, the annual “Bob and Brian Plane Pull” sponsored by Frontier Airlines, Laacke & Joys and 102.9 THE HOG will give you a chance to pull a plane. Where else can you say you were able to do that? Listen to THE HOG at 102.9FM for exciting Plane Pull updates. Later that morning, Regner Park in West Bend will be the site of the inaugural “Shave, Brave and Save” sponsored by The Giving Three. This family friendly day will offer fun for all with proceeds benefiting important cancer and blood disorder family services and MACC Fund supported research. Women for MACC’s exciting “Couture for a Cure” on Oct. 12 promises another great Boston Store fashion show at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.

As you can see, no matter the time of the year, it is always the season of caring for the children by supporting the MACC Fund. We encourage you to keep up to date on all of these events and more by following the MACC Fund on Twitter or Facebook or visiting http://www.maccfund.org We hope to see you this Fall. Thanks for caring for the children. We are proud and grateful to have you on the MACC Fund team that is giving “Hope Through Research” to children battling cancer and blood disorders.

John Cary, Executive Director

For the past 16 years, his friends hosted a party in his honor by carrying on his memory and his legacy of love for the children by contributing proceeds from the event to the MACC Fund. The final party was held on Friday, Aug. 5 at the beautiful Saddle and Cycle Club on Chicago’s lakeshore which graciously hosted nearly all of the annual “Midsummer Night’s Remembrances.” It was another beautiful night with the guest of honor handling the weather as he did throughout the Party’s glorious run. The popular “Afrodisiacs” provided the musical entertainment once again to the dancing delight of all.

As is often the case, all good things come to an end. It was a bittersweet ending like many endings are, but it was far more sweet than bitter when you consider that nearly $500,000 was contributed over the 16 years of the Party to commemorate and celebrate the life of Timothy Emmett Steele. I had the privilege to know him for far too short a time, but I knew him long enough to know that I wish I known him longer. People said he always made everyone feel like they were the most important person. He had a gift of friendship and caring and the legacy of that gift is the Gift of Hope his family and friends have given through the annual summer soirees.

The MACC Fund’s heartfelt thanks on behalf of the children and their dedicated and loving caregivers goes out to his family and all who supported the annual Party. Very special thanks goes to the organizing committee members of the T. Emmett Steele Memorial Foundation. They include Board of Directors Jim Clary, Peter Garvy and Dwight Ekenberg who was the group’s ardent leader with support from his wonderful wife, Robin. The committee members were Marty Crowe, Bob Howington, Bill Kelly, Ed Murphy, Brett Opie, Tom White, Kevin Carroll, Sean Hunter, Dave Stewart, Emmett’s sister and brother, Brigid and Mike, and his nephew John Mickelson.

Emmett’s spirit will live on in his wonderful family and countless friends and in the case of the MACC Fund, in the research his gift and his friends’ gifts have supported. He would be pleased to know that the overall cure rate for childhood cancer has climbed to 80%, thanks in part to this special Party in his honor. He would be the first to note though that the work of helping the children if far from done as shown by that 20% number. Hopefully the T. Emmett Steele Foundation’s loyal supporters will continue to support the MACC Fund, which would make Emmett even prouder! The assets of the Foundation will be liquidated by the end of the year with all of our remaining funds donated to the MACC Fund. We think that he would like that.

Timothy Emmett Steele truly loved the children and his wonderful family and friends dearly loved him.

John Cary, Executive Director

Four golfers each from Arrowhead, Kettle Moraine and Whitnall High Schools played 6 memorable holes with Wilson. High school golf is near and dear to Mark’s heart. So is the MACC Fund since attending Milwaukee Bucks games with his dad. As a freshman, he was a member of the Wisconsin Lutheran High School team which won the WISAA state golf championship. After a great high school and junior golf career, he went on to become an All-American at the University of North Carolina where he was Mathematics major and won the prestigious Walter Hagen Award in 1997 for academic and athletic excellence.

Any follower of the MACC Fund knows that Mark is no stranger to the fight against childhood cancer and blood disorders. He and his lovely wife Amy have supported the cause since 2004, the year he joined the PGA Tour. In keeping with their desire to do all they can to help, they added an exciting new dimension to the Erin Hills event this year as an added incentive for the teams to play their best at the championship tract. They chipped in $25 for every Par and $50 for every Birdie made adding $3,000 to the 2011 Lake Country Charity Invitational proceeds which was played at Western Lakes Country Club in Pewaukee on April 29. This brought the total raised through the Invitational this year to $49,000, a remarkable sum proving that the players are as concerned for the children as they are for their game. The Lake Country Charity Invitational is sponsored by Hartland Arrowhead High School and features some of the state’s finest high school golf teams. The Invitational, under the direction of iconic former Arrowhead golf coach Tom Tallmadge, has as its motto ““Some kids play, so others might live.” The five-year donations from the Invitational which tees off the annual MACC Fund Golf Tour total $193,000.

The understated Wilson made quite an impression on the golfers he played with at Erin Hills. Steve Gerger of Hartland Arrowhead’s team noted “I was actually not nervous, believe it or not. He’s a real genuine guy, easy to get to know.” Nick Johnson of Kettle Moraine agreed saying “He’s a great guy. It’s like I’ve known him forever.” Arrowhead’s Kyle Driscoll commented “He’s awesome to play with. He’s really nice and very complimentary of everything.” Anyone who knows Mark knows that these fine golfers are not only good at hitting putts but they are also good at assessing people.

Mark, who has won four times on the Tour since 2004, is having his finest year in 2011. He is one of only three golfers who have won two tournaments this year, the Sony Hawaiian Open in January and the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February. He has been in the top echelon in the FedEx Cup point standings since the second week of the PGA season and led the standings for three months following his Feb. 7 win at Phoenix where he an his caddy wore Cheeseheads on the famous 17th hole in honor of the Packers who were playing in the Super Bowl. He currently ranks sixth in the FedEx Cup standings and is ninth on the PGA Tour’s money list with $2,716,000 in earnings.

A member of the MACC Fund’s Honorary Athletic Board, Wilson’s “Making a Mark Fore MACC” donates to the MACC Fund for every 36-hole cut he makes in addition to contributing extra dollars for every top 10, 20 and 30 finish. Mark and his wife Amy have contributed $178,000 to the MACC Fund in the past 7 years, the largest amount ever donated to the MACC Fund by a professional athlete and his family.

No one knows who will win the Open Championship, but one thing is known for sure, Wisconsin’s high school golfers will be pulling for their newfound friend and backer, Mark Wilson. Kids battling cancer and blood disorders helped by Mark’s support of the MACC Fund will be cheering for him as well. So will I. I hope you do too.

John Cary, Executive Director