Bike Ride for Patients with MS
On July 24th, Fox Harbor Bar & Grill and Dean Distributing teamed up to hold The Fox River Folly Bike Ride. The ride is their version of the popular “Tour de Fat”, a bike ride organized in larger cities by New Belgium Brewery (Fort Collins, CO), the maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale. Jesse Wotruba, the owner of Fox Harbor and Doug Diefenbach of Dean Distributing, Inc. hatched the idea to conduct this local event. Although the bike ride along the Fox River was modeled after a national event, Wotruba put a special and personal touch on the event: all the proceeds were donated to Bellin Health to help patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a disease that has impacted his family. The funds raised are being allocated to patients with MS who need financial assistance to purchase adaptive equipment, travel for highly specialized treatments if options are not available locally, and to buy medications. Wotruba and Diefenbach have already planned the next Fox River Folly Bike Ride. Join them on Sat. July 9th at Fox Harbor.
Karate Event Benefits Patients at Bellin’s Cancer TEAM
Patrick Petitjean, an 8th degree black belt holder, last year knocked out an enemy that attacks an estimated 10,000 Americans every year – tongue cancer. In honor of his victory and his cancer-free status, Petitjean, along with his good friend, hosted a karate championship event on November 14 and donated the proceeds- the Patient Assistance Fund at The Cancer Team at Belin Health.
"I wanted to do this event as a way of telling people diagnosed with cancer that even when they’re told it’s terminal, it’s not terminal until you quit trying to fight,” Petitjean said. “The event went really well and we’ll make it an annual thing that gets bigger every year."
The patient assistance fund helps patients burdened by the financial side of cancer treatments, including providing patients with gas cards, grocery cards and other types of gift cards to help with the daily-living items.
When asked by his brother if he ever just sits in a corner and cries, Petitjean said, “Never. You can’t let cancer get you down. You have to keep fighting.”
“Have a Good Day, My Friend.”
Everett Davis, a member of the Bellin Health family, passed away on September 2. The long-time staff member had shared his work ethic – and his smile – with Bellin patients, families and co-workers for 44 years.
He was best known for his endearing words, “Have a good day, my friend.”
To honor and remember this special person and friend, the Everett Davis “Have a Good Day, My Friend” fund was established at the Bellin Health Foundation. The fund is being used to support initiatives that encourage “good days” when some days seem a little more challenging. Bellin Health employees, vendors who knew Everett from the hospital and Everett’s other friends and family contributed more than $20,000 to begin this fund. Bellin Health Chaplain, Rev. Wil Tabb jumped started the fund by organizing Bellin’s Biggest Bake Sale, including the motto “Take What You Like. Give What You Can.”
Save Second Base Walk
The Bar, an establishment with six locations, sponsored a walk to help breast cancer patients in Northeast Wisconsin. The event with a somewhat edgy name was promoted to patrons as one way that they could help fight cancer in this community. The evening walk was held October 2 and, combined with some month-long fundraising activities with Phillips Distilling Company, raised more than $9,700 for the Cancer TEAM at Bellin Health.
