Team RMHC Raises Over $350,000 in Bank of America Chicago Marathon to Help Children and Families Worldwide
Bob Wolters Wins Race Entries to Marathon de Paris in April 2011 After Dedicating Race to His Brother Who Lost His Own Race Against Illness
Oak Brook, Ill. (Vocus) October 14, 2010
On October 10, 2010, and for the fifth consecutive year, Team RMHC crossed the finish line for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon raising more than $350,000 and exceeding the fundraising goal. More than two hundred Team RMHC runners from 27 states, Canada and Costa Rica completed the daunting 26.2 mile race to raise money to support Ronald McDonald House Charities and its core programs -- the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room, and Ronald McDonald Care.
Bob Wolters, a Team RMHC runner and President of CookTek®, a manufacturer of induction powered foodservice appliances, had never run a marathon before, but he chose 10.10.10 to run the race celebrating the memory of his brother Ryan who lost his battle against leukemia thirty years ago. During his brother’s treatment, Bob and his parents found strength in the system of support offered by the Ronald McDonald House near Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. As the top fundraiser for Team RMHC, Bob was the winner of a roundtrip airfare and four day/three night stay in Paris for two people, as well as a race entry to the April 2011 Marathon de Paris.
"Ronald McDonald House Charities is an exceptional organization. I’ve witnessed firsthand how RMHC helps families stay together providing much more than just a place to stay, but providing emotional support that gives families the strength to endure during a very difficult time. I know my family and I were able to spend precious time with my brother before he lost his life to cancer. I will never forget our stay and the days I had with my brother,” said Wolters. Bob had always wanted to find a way to give back, so when he found out about Team RMHC, he immediately signed up to be one of the more than two hundred runners dedicating this marathon to children and families fighting their own race against illness and injury. “Running has always been a very important activity in my life, but now that I’ve done it with a purpose and in memory of my brother Ryan, I know that I have made a difference doing something I love."
RMHC supported its talented team of athletes with access to personalized online fundraising support on the Active Giving Network, discounted marathon training from the Charity's official training partner, Chicago Endurance Sports (CES), a pasta dinner the evening before the marathon, pre-and-post race hospitality at their tent in Charity Village and special Team RMHC running shirts for the big day.
"Team RMHC exemplifies our belief that we have strength in numbers. Runners, like Bob Wolters, who dedicated their Chicago Marathon to the over four million families we serve connect to millions of partnerships among donors, volunteers, doctors, hospitals, supporters and the community at large. These partnerships make our programs strong and allow us to support families when they are facing a child's medical crisis," said Jennifer Blanchard Smith, senior director of Communications and Special Programs, RMHC. “Thankfully, the Team RMHC runners recognized that many of the children we serve are running a marathon of their own as they fight illness and injury through months of hospital visits, surgeries and outpatient recovery."
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, http://www. rmhc. org] or follow us on Twitter (@RMHC) and Facebook (Facebook. com/RMHC Global).
About CookTek
CookTek (http://www. cooktek. com]) the Chicago-based developer and manufacturer of induction powered foodservice equipment, is changing the way the world cooks, serves and delivers food.
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