Softball: Fremd coach Weaver doubles down in the fight against Rett syndrome

Fremd softball coach Jim Weaver is putting together a fundraising event to combat Rett syndrome at two Mid-Suburban League games on Monday at Rolling Meadows High School.

"My brother-in-law (former Palatine softball coach Jeff Manz) and I started this game together as a tribute to our father in law, Dennis Lynch when he was fighting Non Hodgkins lymphoma," Weaver said. "He died a few years later, and we kept the game going in his honor.

"Then coach (T.J.) Valacak (Weaver's) assistant) was diagnosed three years ago with leukemia (another bloodborne cancer) so it felt right to change the focus to Bloodborne cancers and try to help coach Valacak's family with his fight."

This past winter, Manz's son Madden was diagnosed with Rett syndrome at 18 months of age.

"His situation is critical, and he is currently intubated at Lurie Hospital in Chicago," Weaver said. "Rett is extremely rare (under 40 cases in the United States) for boys.

"Jeff was the first one to support the game when it was for T.J., so for this year, we decided to do this game for Madden and Rett."

Weaver is planning the benefit game in conjunction with three other teams.

There will be two games on Monday so the four teams are splitting the planning and legwork.

The games will be Fremd vs. Hersey at 4:30 p.m. and Rolling Meadows vs Palatine at 7 p.m.

There will be a ceremony between games.

As in the past, Weaver expects to have T-shirts, raffle baskets and wristbands available at the games.