Pins for Kids has just found out that Sallies exceeded their goal and raised more than $1000.00 for helping find a cure for Tay Sachs. Many Thanks to the Sallies wrestling team and all of those who helped organize it.

Ken and Dakota Bihn recieved a personal note from our Vice President Joseph Biden acknowledging both his thoughts for the Bihn family and our Pins for Kids program. Check it out !!!

Spartans Help Fight Tay-Sachs Disease

1/29/2010
On Thursday, January 28, Ken Bihn, president of the Cure Tay-Sachs Foundation in Cleveland, travelled more than 300 miles to address the crowd before the Spartans’ only home dual meet of the season. He spoke to raise awareness for the Pins for Kids program, an organization started by a Saint Mark’s wrestler to help fight Tay-Sachs disease—a terminal, genetic illness that his 10-year-old daughter, Dakota, is currently battling.

“The team was humbled by the Bihn’s presence at the match,” said Coach Jay Bastianelli ‘97. “It put into perspective how lucky they are to not only be normal teenagers, but also talented athletes. For the Bihn family to put in so much dedication and effort to travel to attend the match meant a lot to the team and the Pins for Kids organization,” he continued.

Instituted by Zachary Frederick ‘06 during the 2005-2006 wrestling season, Pins for Kids has raised more than $70,000 to help raise awareness about childhood diseases and fund research for cures. Wrestling teams from Smyrna, Salesianum and Ashton-Franklin Center High School (Ashton, Ill.) also participate in the program.

Dakota Bihn and her family traveled from Cleveland to speak at the match about the Pins for Kids program.

Salesianum will have their Pins For Kids Night on February 10th at their gymnasium. Please go and support Saint Marks and Sallies in their continued effort to raise awareness and funds for this great cause. Many thanks to Sallies for their involvement.

Jorden working the power half

Just heard from Jodie Lahman (Ali Jean’s Grandmom)and AFC High School in Illinois had their Pins for Kids / Senior Night. From what Jodie said it was a great event and successful. In the pictures are Justin Abby and Ali, Jorden and Ali, and of course THE TEAM and Ali (our hero).

Last night we had the Mannings and Bihns at the Saint Marks Smyrna match. Great night with good wrestling. The Mannings and Bihn will be traveling north to attend the memorial services for Elise Ten Berge who passed away on the 26th of January. All of the pins for kids family will keep Elise in our thoughts and prayers.

From Brian Manning…

Follow the link below to Elise Tenberge’s Caring Bridge website…

Her family posted this message there this evening….

“With an aching heart…Elise officially earned her angel wings at 7:07 p.m. She was being held by John and I as she took her last breath, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Rest in peace Sweet Angel..”

The Manning’s are hurting tonight in our hearts…We are so sorry for the loss of Elise today. We know she Is now joined with Dylan and all the other angels – safe, and watching over all of us. We will continue to keep the Tenberge’s in our thoughts and prayers and forever keep Elise close to our hearts.

Elise was about 1 week short of her 7th Birthday as she passed away from Tay-Sachs Disease this evening….She was one of Dylan’s closest friends when he was here with us. Now they are joined together watching over all of us.

Please keep the Tenberge Family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this very difficult time in their lives…

Read the latest update and show your support at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elisetenberge

1.This past fall Lyle Frederick, Steve Kempf, Greg Snyder and Terry O’Connell won the Skanska USA Building Charity Golf Outting and gave $5000.00 to the Pins For Kids fund. 

2. During the first week of December The Super 32 Tournament held in Greensboro, North Carolina held a on line auction and gave all of the money raised to the Pins for Kids Fund. Many thanks to the Tournament Directors David Barker and Sara Koenig. The total donation was over $6,ooo.00.

3. Also during this week our Pins For Kids program received notice from the Lahman Familyfrom Franklin Grove,IL. Their daughter/granddaughter Ali Jean was just diagnosed with Tay Sachs and the family is full of wrestlers. They are joining our Pins for Kids program this year. You can see Ali’s photo in our Children section. 

4. Ken Bihn (Cure Tay Sachs Foundations main man) and his daughter Dakota are hopefully going to be able to attend our Pins for Kids night which is being held January 28th at Saint Marks High School. Smyrna High School will be in the competition and are also participating in the program.