The following article appeared in the online version of the Houston Chronicle (www.chron.com):
Nov. 1, 2006, 4:08PM
Woodlands group to run for child with cancer
Event will benefit local 3-year-old who is undergoing chemotherapy
By LAURA ISENSEE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
The Weberling family thought they were going to leave The Woodlands and move back to California this month.
Instead, their 3-year-old son Hans is undergoing chemotherapy to treat a form of childhood cancer, called neuroblastoma.
Local running, church and other groups, however, have quickly rallied to support the Weberlings.
On Nov. 11, Run The Woodlands, a semimonthly 5K organized by Luke's Locker, will become Run for Hans to benefit the family, who have been involved with various groups since moving to The Woodlands 4 1/2 years ago.
Lara, Hans' mother, teaches 3-year-olds at St. Anthony of Padua's Little Saints Early Childhood Program where Hans went to school. She also leads her daughter's Girl Scout troop and started training to run a half marathon with Woodlands Fit in July while her husband, Kevin, has coached YMCA soccer for the last several years.
"When I found out (about Hans' diagnosis), I thought how could I really, really help this family. It was easy for me to think of, because that's what we do, we run," said Beth Whitehead, who coaches Lara in Woodlands Fit and spearheaded the event.
Run for Hans
The event, sponsored by Woodlands Fit, Luke's Locker and St. Anthony of Padua's Little Saints Early Childhood Program, is expected to draw members from at least five running groups: Team Luke's, a group with Luke's Locker, Team in Training, Woodlands Fit, Hunstville-based 7 Hills and The Woodlands Running Club.
It costs $1 to run and all donations go toward the Weberlings, said Susie Schreiber, manager of Luke's Locker.
In its seventh year, Run The Woodlands draws an average of 50 runners every second and fourth Saturday of the month, Schreiber said. This is the first time the run will raise money for a local family, Schreiber said.
Along with the 5K, there will be a run and games for smaller children, sponsored by St. Anthony of Padua's Little Saints Early Childhood Program, said Denise Hunter, administrative assistant with the program.
"The run, it's just going to help them with the cost this is going to be. And it's going to make the family feel like everybody's behind them," Hunter said.
Community support
The run is just one of several efforts to support the Weberlings.
A mother's group with St. Anthony's has organized meals for the family for the next five months. Friends opened a Hans Weberling Fund with Chase Bank and started a blog at www.hansjourney.blogspot.com to update friends and family about Hans. Fellow parishioners and friends from Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church also prepared the Weberling home for Hans' return from the hospital.
"I knew I had a lot of friends that I would be missing, but I had no idea how supportive the community would be ... Their kindness, generosity and selflessness is really overwhelming," said Lara Weberling on the telephone from the hospital.
"The thing I'm most thankful for from everyone is their prayers," she added.
Kevin said the support has made him realize how important it is to take care of each member of the community all the time and not just when something bad happens.
"It's certainly changed our outlook, and it always will. Hopefully it will for others, too, who are chipping in," he said.
laura.isensee@chron.com
WANT TO HELP?
Run The Woodlands is Nov. 11 at Barbara Bush Elementary, 7420 Crownridge in Alden Bridge. Children's run and games start at 7:30 a.m., and the adult 5K begins at 8 a.m. The run will include a raffle and other activities.
For more information, call 281-419-0326.
About Me
- Hans Weberling
- Bakersfield, CA, United States
- Hans was a busy, happy, sweet and fearless three year old when he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. He fought his disease like a "gladiator" for nearly 6 years. Hans was an animal lover to his core. He was 'guarded' at home by his three cats, Black, Orange and Cotton. He also had his Golden Retriever, Honey, to keep him company. Hans enjoyed swimming, biking, gardening, grilling (he had his very own grill!), horseback riding, playing video games, building Legos, and flipping between Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Animal Planet. Hans loved all members of his family and he was a loyal friend. He had to go through a lot of treatment in his life. But Hans powered through it. His attitude was let's get this done! His motivation was always to get back home, to his family, pets, favorite foods and pool.
2 comments:
Dear Weberling Family,
I am so sad to hear of your news. You don't know me, I read your article in the news paper and it hit to close to home. We also live in the Woodlands and our 2 year old daughter June 29, 2006 was diagnosed with Leukemia and is being treated at Texas Children's Hospital also. I know that our children are being treated for different cancers, but the fears are the same. I just wanted to reach out and let you know that you have a support system and that if you ever needed any thing please let me know. Our family will pray for your family in these upcoming months may God bless you and keep you all safe in his care.
Sincerely, Trina Beitler
www.caringbridge.org/visit/emeribeitler
Dear Weberling Family,
You don't know me either but I have heard about Hans through some of his friends who take Kindermusik from me. Our family also has experienced the cancer journey with my daughter Caroline when she was three. We also were in the process of moving to Denver and the house was on the market and my husband had started his second week of work in Denver when Caroline was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). When I heard your story I got goose bumps because it was so similar to ours. I am happy to tell you Caroline is a healthy 10 year old and a very strong child physically and spiritually. We are parishoners at Saint Anthony's and and live here in the Woodlands also. I would love to meet your family some day and let Caroline share her strength with Hans. We had two and a half long years of chemo and hospital stays, but now that it is over Caroline remembers the fun times in the playroom and the wonderful nurses and doctors who helped us through. You will be in our prayers and thoughts.
Melanie Edelmaier
dedelmaier@houston.rr.com
Post a Comment