Freezin for a Reason 5
Posted by GSDispatch Editor in by Lake Winnebago Water Wizards Ski Club, Community
New Year’s Day, 2007. The temperature is 40 degrees and it is sunny. There is just a little ice on Lake Winnebago. 20 people go water skiing. New Year’s Day, 2008. It is sunny, but the air temperature is 25 degrees and the wind is blowing at 30 mph which brings the wind chill down to 8 degrees. There is ice on half of Lake Winnebago. The ski ropes are frozen solid and there is ½ inch of ice all over the boats. The water freezes on our drysuits while 25 of us ski in what open water there is. New Year’s Day, 2009. The temperature is 34 degrees and it is sunny. We have spent 4 days breaking ice with our boats to keep the lake open and over 30 people ski. New Year’s Day 2010. We spend 4 days crushing ice again, but this time we lose the battle. New Year’s morning dawns frigid and still; Lake Winnebago is covered with a solid sheet of ice. No one water skis, but a couple of hundred people show up. We eat, drink and have fun. We snowboard behind a tractor, and a couple folks swim in a hole in the ice. Besides proving we are crazy, what has all this accomplished? Well, we have enjoyed fun and fellowship with our friends and neighbors, and we have witnessed the generosity of many people. So why did we do it? We have done all this to raise money and awareness for our friends Chris and Vickie Cox, and their three kids, Jake, Grace and Samuel. We’re going to do it again. At noon on New Year’s Day, 2011, we will be waterskiing off the Arrowhead Yacht Club point at Lake Winnebago.
Jake, Sam and Grace all have a genetic condition called Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. It is a rare and dangerous disease with limited treatment options. Doctors who specialize in the condition are hard to find and many of the treatments are considered experimental. Their medical bills have been more than most of us can imagine making. The family has relocated several times, trying to be nearer to specialists who can help. The disease affects the bone marrow, the immune system and the digestive system. Bone marrow transplants, which can cost the families hundreds of thousands of dollars, are often a treatment option. The medications for the immune issues can be horribly expensive as well. All of this has added up to be huge financial burden on Chris and Vickie, even as what they really need to be concentrating on is getting their kids healthy. This year has been another rough one, as Vickie and Chris have both been ill as well, and Jake spent some time in the hospital on a feeding tube.
So, for the 5th year, the Lake Winnebago Water Wizards of Lake Winnebago, Missouri are trying to help. What can you do? If you are a skier, wakeboarder, air chair rider or are addicted to any other towed water sport, you can come ski with us. Bring your ski, vest and a drysuit if you have one. Be at the Arrowhead Yacht Club point at Lake Winnebago at noon on New Year’s Day 2011. We will have first rate boats, cold water and warm food. It will be a waterski and beach party in the cold, and we will all have a blast. The only thing we ask is that you open your hearts and your checkbooks. Bring a generous donation to help us help the Cox family. Tell all your friends what you are doing. Get them to sponsor you- it takes a special kind of crazy to ski or ride in 33 degree water and that should be worth something! Bring their donations with you or have them send them to us.
If you can’t make it on New Year’s Day, you can still help. Make out a check payable to “Freezin For A Reason”. Drop it off at any Kansas City area Union Bank, or mail it to: Union Bank, 3700 SW Cheddington Dr, Lee’s Summit, Mo, 64082. If skiers and riders would RSVP to freezinforareason@comcast.net and let us know if they are riding, skiing, footing or whatever that would help for planning purposes.
Come see us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=206490024000
Learn more about SDS on www.shwachman-diamond.org
Get to know the Cox’s on www.coxkids4him.com.
You can also email any questions to freezinforareason@comcast.net.
