Fighting cancer on wheels

All-day skating event helps grant wishes for kids with cancer

 

By Stephanie Kuschel

Staff Writer

 

Published: Monday, August 13, 2012 5:07 PM CDT

 

MICHIGAN CITY — It is hard enough growing up without having to battle

cancer, but according to statistics from the National Cancer Institute, it is

the challenge facing more than 12,000 children and adolescents,

who are diagnosed with the disease, annually.

 

But one small, local event, with a big name, is doing its part to make

things a little easier for some of those young people.

 

On Sunday, the second annual 'skate-a-bike-a-scoot-a-skate-a-thon'

took place in Pullman Park, 550 West Fourth Street, and raised money to

support the Little Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children

fighting cancer. Robin Surber, a local resident, and the Michigan City

Summer Festival committee, organized the event.

 

Surber said she got the idea for the skate-a-bike-a-scoot-a-skate-a-thon

after problems with vandalism in Pullman Park incited rumors that the

park could be taken away, leaving young people, like her 13-year-old son,

Alan without a place to practice.

 

“I wanted to show that they’re great, caring kids out here,” Surber said.

“They love their park, and they’re not the ones vandalizing it.”

 

Surber, who cared for both of her parents during their battles with cancer, said she chose the Little Wish Foundation because of its mission and because she liked that the founders, Liz and Therese Niemiec, were local residents of Michigan City.

 

“I know what it’s like to go through all of that, and I can’t imagine being a kid and having to go through it,” Surber said. “The Little Wish Foundation goes into the hospitals and brings joy to the kids who are going through such hard times.”

 

As Surbur was planning the first skate-a-bike-a-scoot-a-skate-a-thon, an unexpected discovery brought the event’s mission even closer to home. Surber found out that one of her son’s friends, a fellow Michigan City skater named Daniel Fredenvurg, now 15, had been diagnosed with abdominal cancer.Surber explained that Daniel’s diagnosis came as a second hit to the Fredenvurg family because Daniel’s father, Greg Fredenvurg, was already fighting cancer.

 

“We told the Little Wish Foundation about Daniel,” Surber said, “and they put him right at the top of the list."

 

Not long after, while Daniel was going through dialysis and chemotherapy treatments, the Little Wish Foundation surprised him at the hospital with an Apple iPod.

 

“That kid’s face lit up like it was Christmas, and I cry every time I think of it,” Patty Fredenvurg, Daniel's mother, said. “I’m strapped financially – with all that’s happened, but I wanted to show Robin my appreciation, so I made signs. I want people to know what they (Robin Surber and the Little Wish Foundation) have done and how thankful I am.”

 

Daniel Fredenvurg is now eight months cancer free, and on Sunday, he was out on the track supporting the event that supported him through his treatments.

 

Patty Fredenvurg said the Little Wish Foundation recently approached her again to say that Daniel is eligible for a “Big Wish.”

 

“Most kids pick to go to Disney World,” Patty Fredenvurg said. “My kid wants to go to go to a professional skate park and learn tricks from the pros.”

 

Last year, the skate-a-bike-a-scoot-a-skate-a-thon raised enough money to sponsor five wishes, which cost anywhere from $400-$600 each, but Surber did a lot of the fundraising herself – either through personal donations or by asking for businesses in the area to sponsor the event. This year, Surber said more than 26 community businesses contributed donations to the event, but she also put in place a $20 donation fee for skaters to participate.

 

“That way, they know they did most of it themselves,” Surber said, “and everyone’s donated very happily and willingly.”

 

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