Here is the latest update. Please read, and pass along.
Updates for Tyler
The following are updates for Tyler. The effort has not stopped and will not stop until this young warrior is totally free of cancer. To say the least, the national response to Tyler has been incredible. This last week two tournaments took up money for Tyler, both the Derby Tournament on the heels of hosting the clinic which raised in the neighborhood of $3,000. The Paola tournament also took up money for the Tyler Graebner fund this week, raising around $350.
There are several other things planed at this point including the following.
An on line auction which will feature autographed items from LaBron James, Bruce Bumgartner, T.C. Dantzler, Dan Gable and many others. One of the items from Dan Gable is going to include a rare poster from the 1972 Olympics. This one item alone has brought in over $500 at several auctions.
We want to also acknowledge the John Spohn Memorial Tournament in New Hampshire which is going to also benefit Tyler.
Also available now are the Tyler Graebner T-Shirts. For a copy of the design and to order the shirts you can email Cindy Page from Baxter Page Enterprises. This is a Kansas company that is donating all of the profits of the t-shirt to the Tyler Graebner Trust Fund. The email for the shirts is cindypage53@aol.com The address for the shirts is 4825 E. Orme / Wichita KS 67218. The cost of the t-shirts are $10 with $5 of the purchase price going to the Tyler Graebner Trust Fund.
There is still much more to be done. Some individuals are making sure that each tournament takes up money for Tyler. Those tournaments don’t have to be limited to Kansas Tournaments. Even small amounts help with the medical and family needs. Pass the bucket or have a bucket available at concession stands and head tables for Tyler. The United States Junior Open this weekend in Oklahoma City Oklahoma is even going to be taking up money for Tyler. Thanks to them and all others who are helping bring the wrestling community together for this little guy.
There are other things that can be done. So far in Kansas District 1 and District 2 have hosted clinics which have raised approximately $5,000 for Tylers Trust Fund. We would like to challenge the other two districts to be willing to host a clinic for Tyler. I will personally assist along with Eric Akin, who has committed to take part, with any District or area desiring to host a clinic for Tyler. Comments from those attending the clinics would be appropriate here to encourage others to participate. I will say this, so far there is no shortage of quality wrestlers and individuals who have been willing to donate their time in their participation and help. If interested call me on my cell phone or home phone or feel free to give me a email. We want to remind individuals that these clinics need not be limited to the Kansas Area. Tyler has become a national symbol and we welcome the support from the Nation. From Boston to California, and from Florida to the Dakotas help has come from all over. We have individuals in wrestling from around the world who has offered to lend their support. I must also say a big thanks to Danielle Hobeika who has been so instrumental in keeping the web site updated and current. She developed this so quickly and I know the time and sacrifice it has taken her. Plus, she has to put up with almost daily emails from me.
Lastly, initial steps are in place to plan a summer camp for Tyler in the Central Kansas area. We are looking at this area to allow Tyler to attend in some capacity. Again, individuals from across the nation have already committed to attend, including United States Medal Winners from the 2004 Olympics. We are in the beginning stages of planning for this and encourage volunteers, and possibly locations that would donate their services. So far this has all taken a lot of effort and time, yet, every penny that has come in has gone for Tyler. We still want to do everything possible to insure that this happens.
In closing I have had the honor of heading much of this up. It has to be said there have been literally hundreds of individuals helping out. Without the help of Kobi Williams and Eric Akin I realize that much of this would have never happened for Tyler. It all goes back though to the fact that Mike Juby acted on his heart. He made a post, I read it, later that week spoke to Eric about a benefit for Tyler and the rest is history. There are so many behind the scenes that have been a part of all of this, and on behalf of Tyler, Amber, Patrick, and James and Christina Graebner I say thank you so much. Truth is, that in some ways because I have gotten to know the Graebner’s I feel as if I have been the biggest winner out of all of this. Sometimes the joy we find is not in the things we do, but in the people we meet along the way. The Graebners and those involved in the wrestling community have been a tremendous reward. The ride has been a blast so far, and we still haven’t climbed the first hill of that roller coaster. If you haven’t been along on the ride, jump on board, I promise you, you will be glad you did. Thanks again and God Bless you, and God especially bless Tyler and his family. By the way, if you haven’t been to the
http://www.tylergraebner.com web site lately go there, visit, take some time, look at the photo’s and then leave a message for Tyler and his family.
Lastly special thanks to
http://www.usawks.com, http://www.okwrestle.com, and
http://www.themat.com for thier willingness to allow these messages to go out. Numerous other web sites have picked up the information and we really do have a ground swell from around the world starting to build for Tyler. We have heard from Japan and Sweden on his behalf and these web sites have allowed all of that to take place.
