Patient Raises $10,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Research
Bryan Warnecke, a nine-year-old cystic fibrosis
patient at Children's Hospital Colorado, auctioned his
prized hockey stick signed by Colorado Avalanche
players at the 2008 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Gala,
raising $10,000 for research.
Bryan Warnecke was born with cystic fibrosis and is a regular patient at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is also a hockey fanatic. At two years old, he strapped on skates and began playing street hockey with the neighborhood kids. Last summer, he was the goalie for the State of Colorado team at the national tournament. He idolizes Patrick Roy and Peter Budaj and is an avid Colorado Avalanche fan.
Earlier this year, he participated in the Avs' Better Halves Fashion show sponsored by wives of Avalanche players for the benefit of Children's Hospital Colorado. During the event, the Avs players model clothes donated by local retailers and are accompanied down the runway by kids who have been treated at Children's Hospital Colorado. Bryan strutted his stuff with Peter Budaj and Scott Parker. After the event was over, Budaj and Parker helped Bryan get his goalie stick signed by all of the Avs players and coaches. Needless to say, this became his prized possession.
Bryan’s mom, Wendy, is active in the Colorado chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and as part of the Gala organizing committee was particularly resourceful in obtaining auction gifts for the event. A couple of months ago, Bryan attended one the organizing meetings after his quarterly checkup at Children’s. Not one to be shy, Bryan got on the phone on the spot and called a couple of local merchants, getting them to donate auction packages. Still wanting to do more, he thought about what else he could do to help raise money to find a cure.
His eyes lit up as he told the committee that he had something that he knew people would love and would bid a lot of money for -- his treasured, signed goalie stick. The committee was amazed at the generosity of this nine-year-old boy willing to part with his prized possession in order to get that much closer to a cure. They agreed that it should be the lead live auction item at the Gala.
A week before the Gala, when faced with parting with his stick, Bryan shed a few tears. But when reminded about how good things happen to people who do good things, Bryan remembered how important raising money for CF was and handed over the stick. Impressed with his brother’s generosity, Bryan’s older brother Jake suggested to his dad that they had to do something for Bryan. So, they wrote to the Avalanche organization to tell his story. The Avs responded by donating another stick signed by this year’s team to accompany Bryan’s stick in the auction -- and a little surprise for Bryan.
The Gala took place in January at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver with 350 guests attending. It was the most successful Gala ever for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Denver. Bryan and his dad led off the live auction program by telling the story behind the stick.
Bryan started the bidding at $200 hoping to get up to $500. He stood on stage with his mouth open in amazement as the bids climbed to $10,000. As the winning bidder, B.J. Fair, came forward to claim the sticks, Bryan’s brother Jake stepped forward to present Bryan with the surprise from the Avs -- a new goalie stick signed by all of the player’s from this year’s team. Once he claimed his sticks, Mr. Fair handed the original goalie stick back to Bryan saying, “This stick has only one true, rightful owner." He handed the other stick to Jake, and they walked away to a standing ovation.
The event raised more than $500,000 for cystic fibrosis research, due in no small part to the generosity of a child. Once again, the circle of giving was completed.
