Wauconda cops rally to help out one of their own
Eric Schultz may not be a Star Wars aficionado, but he knows the force is with him.
The Wauconda police force, that is, of which Schultz is one of the newest members, having served a little more than a year.
The 24-year-old McHenry resident didn't expect his peers in the department pulling together a fundraiser to help in his fight against bone cancer that claimed his right foot. A community bowling event benefiting Schultz will be held from 7 to 11 tonight at the Brunswick Zone Deer Park Lanes, 21080 N Route 12, Lake Zurich.
"They have taken it upon themselves to organize this huge event without me even asking anything," Schultz said. "Just to have that support, it's great."
A 2002 graduate of Wauconda High School, Schultz earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb before joining Wauconda's police force in December 2006.
He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a common pediatric type of bone cancer, in November 2007.
Since then, fellow officers have donated their personal and vacation time to Schultz so he could take paid time off for medical treatment.
"I get to still pay my mortgage," Schultz said. "It's awesome that the police department has done all this stuff for me."
Organizers said they don't know how much money the event will raise as there have been no advance ticket sales. They hope to attract 150 people. A $25 donation per person will get two hours of bowling, shoes included.
"We're not sure how it's going to go," Wauconda police officer Tom Robertson said. "This is really the first organized fundraiser that we've done (for Eric). We've got the rest of the summer to plan other things, if we fell short of what we were hoping."
Schultz just finished up a round of chemotherapy and dealing with its aftereffects, including fevers up to 105 degrees and mouth sores. He will make an appearance at tonight's fundraiser.
"We're just looking forward to seeing him (tonight)," Robertson said. "He's got such a great attitude, it's hard to be anything but upbeat. We're trying to help him with the financial aspects so that he can just concentrate on his physical recovery."
Schultz expects to be back patrolling Wauconda's streets after a last round of chemotherapy before November.
Donations may be made to the Eric Schultz Benefit Foundation at Fifth Third Bank, 486 W. Liberty St., Wauconda, IL 60084.
For more information or to help with fundraising efforts, e-mail Laura Yost at mlje8@att.net or contact Robertson at the Wauconda Police Department, (847) 526-2421.