Golf outing to aid ailing Algonquin/Lake in the Hills firefighter
A coalition of firefighter organizations will hold a golf outing to raise funds for one of its members who was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Scott Burkemper, a firefighter paramedic in the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Fire Department, is covered by his wife's medical insurance provided by the city of Mount Prospect, but medical bills have quickly become overwhelming.
"Even with insurance, Scott and his family still have to pay $15,000 to cover all the tests and the surgery to remove his kidney," said Erick Kennedy, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3985, one of the firefighting groups organizing the event.
So far, about 100 golfers have signed up, but the goal is 144 - the maximum number of golfers Chalet Hills Country Club in Cary can handle.
"We are trying to raise $7,500 from this outing, not just with golf, but also the silent auction," Kennedy said.
More than 75 items will be for sale at the auction, ranging from a free weekend rental of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to front row Chicago Cubs tickets behind the Cubs dugout.
For years, Local 3985, the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Fire Department and the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Firefighters Association have jointly sponsored an annual golf outing to raise funds for the union. But this year, the union approached the other two organizations to help Burkemper and his family.
This golf outing is not the only way fellow firefighters have been trying to raise money for Burkemper. Several restaurants in the area have sponsored "give back nights," where customers bring in a flier about Burkemper to the restaurant, and a portion of the bill is donated to the cause.
"Scott was diagnosed April 1, but his spirits have been high, we've been in contact with him every day since then, and he usually shows up a the fire house a couple times a week," Kennedy said.
The golf outing will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 27 at Chalet Hills Golf Club, 943 Rawson Bridge Road, in Cary. For details, call Kennedy at (847) 489-6694 or go to alfpd.org.