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Health & Fitness

On the Beat with the NJ Grabowskis and Resistance Pro at Kicks For A Cure

I first heard about Kicks For A Cure while researching events in Chicago for Global Traveler magazine (for whom I write a weekly online piece).  I lived for kickball during my time at Sacred Heart Elementary School.  Clearly, Kicks For A Cure was an event I wanted to attend, not just an event I would list in a story.  Aside from my childhood love of kickball calling to me, I liked everything I read about Kicks For A Cure, Receptions for Research (the Greg Olsen Foundation) and all involved.
Held every summer in Grant Park, Kicks for a Cure has over 60 teams competing and raising money for cancer research.   All proceeds go to Receptions for Research, which was founded in 2009, by Olsen, the former Bears and current Carolina Panthers tight end, to honor his mother who survived her battle with breast cancer. 
After committing to go, I learned that the NJ Grabowskis, one of the participating teams, had invited some Resistance Pro wrestlers to join them.  C Red, Eric St. Vaughn and Barry Ryte were representing R Pro.
I arrived early with R Pro’s ESV.  The Kicks For A Cure volunteers could not have been any nicer.  Soon, I met Greg Olsen and his brother Chris (Executive Director of the foundation) and Jim Cornelison, who famously sings the National Anthem at Blackhawks games.  We all talked and took pictures.
NJ Jon came over and I started to meet the NJ Grabowskis as they arrived.  They were a fun bunch, but serious about the cause.  Part local and part NJ-based, they have been the top fund-raisers each of their four years in the tournament.
When I asked Jon why they do it, he responded, “We come out every year, because every one of us knows a friend or family member who has dealt with cancer.  We love being able to join with some of our favorite players to raise money for such a great cause.  And it is easily the most fun and unique fundraiser if its kind.”  Soon I got to see just how fun and unique it all was.  I was surrounded by fields of teams of kickballers, each one as serious as they could be, while still having a lot of fun.
The Grabowskis were intense and energetic.  Unfortunately, they went 0-3 in their games, including one game against Team Olsen (because they were the top fund-raisers).  Coach Jon did his best to shuffle players around to give everyone time in the games.  Despite having enough players on their own, Jon made sure the R Pro guys saw action, too.
Jon even got me in the last game, playing right field and getting an at-bat.  By the way, I got a hit and scored a run (which I will forever brag about to my R Pro pals).
Since Saturday, I have heard from several members of the team.  Although I just met them, they all made R Pro and me feel like old friends.  If they lived in Chicago, we’d probably be playing softball together regularly!
Through Jon, I also learned that Kicks For A Cure made almost $150,000 on donations alone this year.  When you add tickets and merchandise sales and CH Robinson to match the total, you have over $300,000 for the day.  As Jon said, “That's impressive.”
I agree with Jon.  It is impressive.  It is as impressive as a group of friends from NJ and Chicago combining to raise a lot of money and to include some extra Chicagoans.  It is as impressive as the effort of everyone involved.  It is as impressive as the chain of events which lead to a fun and unique day (borrowing Jon’s description).
I want to publicly thank Greg and Chris Olsen and the Receptions for Research Foundation, Jason Chamberlain (co-founder of Receptions for Research), Julie Hamm (media person), Jon Heselica and Team Grabowski, my friends at R Pro and everyone (really every one) involved in making the day fantastic.
I felt truly honored and lucky to have been a part of Kicks For A Cure and I will be back next year.

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