The Tyler Graebner Fund
c/o Peoples Bank and Trust
1020 N. Main
Hutchinson, KS 67501

Here is the latest update. Please read, and pass along.

Updates for Tyler

The following are updates for Tyler. The effort has not stopped and will not stop until this young warrior is totally free of cancer. To say the least, the national response to Tyler has been incredible. This last week two tournaments took up money for Tyler, both the Derby Tournament on the heels of hosting the clinic which raised in the neighborhood of $3,000. The Paola tournament also took up money for the Tyler Graebner fund this week, raising around $350.

There are several other things planed at this point including the following.

An on line auction which will feature autographed items from LaBron James, Bruce Bumgartner, T.C. Dantzler, Dan Gable and many others. One of the items from Dan Gable is going to include a rare poster from the 1972 Olympics. This one item alone has brought in over $500 at several auctions.

We want to also acknowledge the John Spohn Memorial Tournament in New Hampshire which is going to also benefit Tyler.

Also available now are the Tyler Graebner T-Shirts. For a copy of the design and to order the shirts you can email Cindy Page from Baxter Page Enterprises. This is a Kansas company that is donating all of the profits of the t-shirt to the Tyler Graebner Trust Fund. The email for the shirts is cindypage53@aol.com The address for the shirts is 4825 E. Orme / Wichita KS 67218. The cost of the t-shirts are $10 with $5 of the purchase price going to the Tyler Graebner Trust Fund.

There is still much more to be done. Some individuals are making sure that each tournament takes up money for Tyler. Those tournaments don’t have to be limited to Kansas Tournaments. Even small amounts help with the medical and family needs. Pass the bucket or have a bucket available at concession stands and head tables for Tyler. The United States Junior Open this weekend in Oklahoma City Oklahoma is even going to be taking up money for Tyler. Thanks to them and all others who are helping bring the wrestling community together for this little guy.

There are other things that can be done. So far in Kansas District 1 and District 2 have hosted clinics which have raised approximately $5,000 for Tylers Trust Fund. We would like to challenge the other two districts to be willing to host a clinic for Tyler. I will personally assist along with Eric Akin, who has committed to take part, with any District or area desiring to host a clinic for Tyler. Comments from those attending the clinics would be appropriate here to encourage others to participate. I will say this, so far there is no shortage of quality wrestlers and individuals who have been willing to donate their time in their participation and help. If interested call me on my cell phone or home phone or feel free to give me a email. We want to remind individuals that these clinics need not be limited to the Kansas Area. Tyler has become a national symbol and we welcome the support from the Nation. From Boston to California, and from Florida to the Dakotas help has come from all over. We have individuals in wrestling from around the world who has offered to lend their support. I must also say a big thanks to Danielle Hobeika who has been so instrumental in keeping the web site updated and current. She developed this so quickly and I know the time and sacrifice it has taken her. Plus, she has to put up with almost daily emails from me.

Lastly, initial steps are in place to plan a summer camp for Tyler in the Central Kansas area. We are looking at this area to allow Tyler to attend in some capacity. Again, individuals from across the nation have already committed to attend, including United States Medal Winners from the 2004 Olympics. We are in the beginning stages of planning for this and encourage volunteers, and possibly locations that would donate their services. So far this has all taken a lot of effort and time, yet, every penny that has come in has gone for Tyler. We still want to do everything possible to insure that this happens.

In closing I have had the honor of heading much of this up. It has to be said there have been literally hundreds of individuals helping out. Without the help of Kobi Williams and Eric Akin I realize that much of this would have never happened for Tyler. It all goes back though to the fact that Mike Juby acted on his heart. He made a post, I read it, later that week spoke to Eric about a benefit for Tyler and the rest is history. There are so many behind the scenes that have been a part of all of this, and on behalf of Tyler, Amber, Patrick, and James and Christina Graebner I say thank you so much. Truth is, that in some ways because I have gotten to know the Graebner’s I feel as if I have been the biggest winner out of all of this. Sometimes the joy we find is not in the things we do, but in the people we meet along the way. The Graebners and those involved in the wrestling community have been a tremendous reward. The ride has been a blast so far, and we still haven’t climbed the first hill of that roller coaster. If you haven’t been along on the ride, jump on board, I promise you, you will be glad you did. Thanks again and God Bless you, and God especially bless Tyler and his family. By the way, if you haven’t been to the http://www.tylergraebner.com web site lately go there, visit, take some time, look at the photo’s and then leave a message for Tyler and his family.

Lastly special thanks to http://www.usawks.com, http://www.okwrestle.com, and http://www.themat.com for thier willingness to allow these messages to go out. Numerous other web sites have picked up the information and we really do have a ground swell from around the world starting to build for Tyler. We have heard from Japan and Sweden on his behalf and these web sites have allowed all of that to take place.

Anyone interested in the shirts for Tyler, I will be at the Hutch tournament this weekend and In Olathe on the 15th. I am with the Northwest Junior Grizzles Wrestling Club, find a coach and they will put you in touch with me. The sizes range from child small up to adult 4x. And they are in all different colors. If I don't have your size with me, I will be glad to make one for you. If you know what size you want and would like to order one or more, just let me know on this web site or at cindypage53@aol.com. This is a great way to help out Tyler and his family and have a neat shirt too!

Cindy Page

So far we have sold 47 shirts for Tyler. I have even heard from someone in California that would like to get a shirt! Remember that each shirt is $10.00, with $ 5.00 of that going to the Tyler Graebner Fund.

Links to stories on Tyler, Wichita Eagle should have something soon if it hasn't happened already. I did a lengthy interview with them and I think they were trying to get with Tyler and Eric as well.

http://www.hutchnews.com/past/01-08-2005/sports/sports12.html

http://www.hutchnews.com/past/12-31-2004/sports/sportsbriefs.html

http://www.hutchnews.com/past/12-19-2004/local/local4.html

Hi, my name is Heather Townsend and I am with Gardner-Edgerton Wrestling Club. We are having a Novice tournament on Jan. 23rd at the Gardner High School. I would like someone to call me to arrange a collection for Tyler at our tournament. We are also having a raffle and we will be donating all of our raffle money to your fund. You can reach me by calling 913-884-8523 or email me at heathergewc@yahoo.com Please tell Tyler and his family that we are keeping them in our prayers.

Heather, the process is actually quite simple, and thanks so much for what you and others are doing. I have heard so many comments, one tournament looking at charging a $1 gate fee to their tournament, thus raising hundreds if not a couple thousand dollars for Tyler’s Fund. Another talking about doing aluminum cans, others taking donations, etc. What many are doing is simply getting some buckets, placing them in prominent places with information about Tyler, and then making announcements through out the tournament. I think one tournament even passed the buckets around. Whatever and it is quite simple. From there, you can have the cash transferred however, you want, into your account, or straight money order and mail it to the Tyler Graebner fund listed at the top of this thread. I would also encourage you and others to visit Tyler's web site http://www.tylergraebner.com and leave a message in his guest book. He also appreciates appropriate emails at tylergraebner@aol.com There are so many who have come through for Tyler. The money is so important but don't forget the value of your prayers and a kind word if you get the chance to meet him. Also, don't forget the family, a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister. They are all going through this together, and to know the Kansas family has come through like it has as well as the rest of the country is astounding. We are also looking for a location to host a clinic in region 4. It looks like the next clinic will be at Buhler High School but the date and times on that are not certain yet. We also want to have a summer camp with the proceeds going to help actually Tyler, and possibly a couple of others like Aaron Sweazy another Kansan with cancer. More about that later but again thanks, if you need more information please free to email or call me.

We will be selling the "Take it to the mat for Tyler" shirts at the TOHK tournament at Northwest on Saturday. Remember $10.00 per shirt, with $5.00 going to Tyler's fund. A big thanks to TOHK for letting us set up a table.

Updates regarding Tyler and activities to benefit Tyler and others. We are currently planning to have a clinic for Tyler on Thursday March 3. Details will be coming soon regarding the clinic. We are looking for clinicians and individuals to participate during this clinic to be hosted by Buhler's Team Lightning in Buhler Kansas. This is the Thursday before the Wichita Park City Classic so we will be able to get a number of in state and out of state wrestlers to participate. If I am not mistaken, we will also be able to have high school wrestlers participate in this clinic in that it is after the High School season.

As in the other two clinics hosted, at Paola and Derby, we are looking for qualified clinicians and we have had NCAA D1 National Champions as well as National and World Champions at each of the clinics from various levels.

We are also planning to host a 3-5 day, day camp this summer. I already have commitments from several United States Olympians and others. I won't mention names yet, but confirmation has been received from several world class wrestlers. There are one of two options for this regarding a host site. Either a local college who would allow us to use their facilities, or a school that would allow the use of facilities, and then families to help host campers who are coming from out of town. I will say this, at this point regarding the clinicians who have committed, it is likely that no camp in America will have the name recognition at their camp as we will have for the camp for Tyler. It may very well be the top camp in America this summer. The primary objective for this effort is to secure a date, and location for as little money as possible. We are also looking at using 100% of the funds for this camp to help with Tyler's medical expenses but also to designate some towards other worthy charities and causes. At present, the other individual we would like to help with some of the proceeds for medical expenses is Aaron Sweazy, another Kansan fighting his own battle with cancer. The cost of the camp will be kept low to insure the opportunity for as many wrestlers as possible to participate.

Be on the lookout for more information and remember that now is the time to start volunteering for the clinic, camp, hosting wrestlers or clinicians and securing a location. I am also open to looking at possible dates and hearing recommendations on that, as well as other wrestlers who could possibly benefit from some of the revenues brought in from the summer camp. We don't want to conflict with any of the dates for teams involved in summer wrestling.

Last couple of notes, our goal is to give 100% of the proceeds from the clinic to Tyler. 100% of the proceeds from the summer camp will be designated to Tyler and other qualified wrestlers in need of ongoing financial support for injuries or illness not covered by insurance. Applications and recommendations for those individuals are currently being accepted. We are also asking that host families of clinicians, where needed, will cover the cost of food for the clinicians while they are in town. If there are any contacts in the lodging or food industry who could help with this it would be greatly appreciated. Again, our goal is to use 100% of all monies coming in to go to those in need.

Last note as well, we have received a number of items that will be made available during an on line auction for Tyler. We are still receiving items and will plan on listing them and making them available for auction in the near future The current plan is to hold the auction during the week of the Kansas State Kids Tournament

For more information or to volunteer to help with any of these areas please call me at 841-5814 or email me at mike@furches.org with Tyler in the subject line of your email.