Third annual Monk's Ride to benefit Northwest Community Healthcare Foundation
Northwest Community Healthcare Foundation will be the beneficiary of the third annual Monk's Ride, a community event that will take place Sunday, Aug. 20, in Algonquin. The fundraising event honors the late Dennis "Monk" Heidmann, a former lung cancer patient at NCH.
Riders register and pay a donation to participate - cars, vans, trucks are welcome as well. Signup begins at 9:30 a.m. at Tavern at the Bridge, 101 E. Algonquin Road in Algonquin.
The ride begins at 10 a.m. with stops along the way, and ends at Skeeters Saloon, 1691 Elgin Road (Route 25) in Carpentersville, where an auction and other festivities will take place.
Last year, 150 riders raised more than $5,500 which went directly to the NCH Radiation Oncology Program where "Monk" was diagnosed and treated for lung cancer in 2011. More than $18,000 has been raised since the ride's inception in 2014.
"The money is going right to Northwest Community Hospital where Monk got excellent treatment," his wife, Peggy Heidmann, said. "Everyone loved Monk and now we have this tribute to him."
"We are very grateful to Peggy and her family for organizing such a successful event every year in memory of her husband and in honor of the physicians, nurses and staff who cared for Monk," said Dave Ungurean, executive director of the NCH Foundation. "Proceeds from the event continue to support the excellent care provided by our radiation oncology team at NCH."
Several "Monk" items will be auctioned off at Skeeters, such as football memorabilia from his semipro football days, and T-shirts bearing his image.
Follow Monk's Ride 2017 on Facebook.
Serving Chicago's northwest suburbs since 1959, Northwest Community Healthcare is an independent health care system dedicated to serving the community. Its comprehensive, patient-centered system of care has locations throughout Chicago's northwest suburbs. It serves more than 350,000 outpatients and more than 20,000 inpatients treated annually at its 489-bed acute care hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois. It is home to a Level II NICU, Level II Trauma Center and a dedicated pediatric emergency department. The award-winning hospital holds the prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence, is designated as a Primary Stroke Center, and earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval in 2015.
NCH has a medical staff of more than 1,200 physicians. All 20 locations of NCH Medical Group are staffed with board-certified primary and specialty care physicians. In addition, four NCH Immediate Care Centers and NCH Virtual Health provide access to care when and how people need it.