Roselle family fundraiser honors son who died of cancer
To honor the memory of their late son, Jean and Tom Boeckenhauer hosted a fundraiser for pediatric cancer patients like him - and the results were more than they expected.
The Roselle family set a goal of 100 attendees and $10,000 raised but 175 people attended the Aug. 14 event that raised $13,351.
"Everything exceeded our expectations and more," Jean Boeckenhauer said. "I feel so honored and blessed to be part of such an amazing community."
Kevin was 23 when he died in 2019. He was 12 when he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of pediatric bone cancer.
His parents decided to have the fundraiser at Seasons 4 Pool and Clubhouse because Kevin was a swimmer.
The first Kevin Boeckenhauer Memorial Fundraiser aimed to raise money for organizations that were important to Kevin. The family plans to distribute: $4,000 in college scholarships for Lake Park High School students; $2,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities; $2,000 to the Lighthouse for the Blind; and $2,000 to the American Diabetes Association. The rest will go to help families in need that are fighting the disease in the coming months.
Remembering Kevin can be a struggle emotionally some days, Jean Boeckenhauer said. She recalls Kevin as a good kid who always had a smile on his face, with a great passion for swimming. He joined the Bloomingdale Barracudas when he was 9 years old and continued to swim for them until he graduated from Lake Park High School, where he swam for the varsity team.
Kevin got to enjoy life to the fullest, she said. He was invited as a special guest of actress Mayim Bialik for a taping of the "Big Bang Theory" and he got the chance to meet Duncan Keith and Brett Connolly of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Kevin eventually enrolled at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, where he became an honorary member of the swim team.
"At first at the party, I was just a mess," Jean Boeckenhauer said. "I had to step away and gather myself for the event. But I made it through the rest of the day. We've got such incredible friends and family that have always been so supportive of us."
Kevin asked his parents, "If I can do anything to help one person through this fight, why wouldn't I do it?" Those words stuck with the Boeckenhauers. They plan to expand the event next year, Jean Boeckenhauer said, and she hopes Kevin's determined spirit helps them achieve greater success in honoring his life and saving many others.