Checkers give back

A while back I brought you the story of young Zach Bennett, fan of the Charlotte Checkers and who suffers from Neurofibromatosis. David Lee over at Kuklas Korner keeps a closer eye on the Checkers (and the Hurricanes) than I do and brings an update, including a segment from ESPN:

Zach was devastated when the Rats moved to Charlotte and became the Checkers. They were giving him inspiration, and when the team was sold, he gave up hope. He gave up on his physical therapy. He got really depressed. No longer able to attend home games, he had to watch them on an internet stream and see them when they were the road team in Albany.

As much as “Bug” missed the players, they missed him too. Brad Herauf, with whom Zach was especially close, came up with a plan that blossomed into something nobody could have ever imagined. He made a deal with Bug that every time the Checkers won, Bug had to his physical therapy, which means practicing walking on his stumps. Every time the Checkers lost, he could have a day off. Bug started practicing even when the Checkers lost.

In January, the team invited Zach and his family down to Charlotte for a couple of games. While in Charlotte, they got a look at the medical facilities, and suddenly there was a new plan. If the family moved to Charlotte, they could make Zach happy by being back with the team that he loved. They could also be closer to the medical care that he needs. His mother also has NF1 and requires some medical attention. They had been making seven-hour drives from Albany to some hospital in Maryland, which was the closest facility that had Neurofibromatosis specialists. Charlotte has that. There was another very good reason for the family to move. And that was the decision that they made.

There was a problem, though. The Bennett’s house in Albany wasn’t selling. They couldn’t move until it did. This is when the Checkers kicked it into an extra gear. They proved that it isn’t just about winning and losing on the ice. They proved that the fans aren’t just dollar signs.

The Checkers started a funds drive and they started donating a portion of ticket sales dollars to the cause. In the end, they raised enough money from fans, donors and the owner’s own pocket to buy a house in Charlotte, renovate it, furnish it, and hand it over to the Bennetts. In an on-ice ceremony during the last week of the regular season, the Checkers presented the keys and turned the entire evening into Zach’s night. I was there that night, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Obviously I’m biased. This is my team doing this incredible thing. Also, I know a bit about this disorder, since it runs in my own family. With or without the bias, though, this is an amazing story.

Anyway, here’s the nine-minute clip of the remarkable young man and the incredible generosity of the Checkers (Kuklas Korner):