Cazenovia is a community that comes together to support its neighbors in times of adversity – and this Saturday, Oct. 3, a community-wide event is occurring to raise money to help pay the medical bills for the Reger family, whose patriarch, Kyle, suffered a stroke less than one month ago. The family, which includes his wife Marla and their two young children, Max, 6, and Jackson, 3, and is facing medical bills of around $50,000.
“This couple just so beloved in this community,” said Meghan Kelly, a family friend and one of the organizers of the “Rally for the Regers” event. “I had so many people asking how can I help, what can I do? … It’s just the coolest thing … so many people are wanting to be involved in this.”
Kyle suffered a stroke on Sept. 4 while he was traveling on business in Massachusetts. After 10 days at a Massachusetts hospital, Reger was transferred to Upstate Medical Center, where he is currently in the Acute Rehabilitation Center.
“The great news is that he survived and he is every bit himself, except he has no motor function on his left side. He looks, acts and sounds the same, including his wonderful smile, great sense of humor and laugh. The challenge before him now is gaining mobility in his left arm and leg,” according to the “Rally for the Regers” Facebook event page. He will undergo weeks of physical and occupational therapy before returning home, followed by sustained outpatient therapy at the same facility.
After the stroke, a group of the Reger’s family and friends joined together to assist the family day-to-day functions as well as with the financial demands incurred by their ensuing medical costs. They started a fund to help the family and came up with the Oct. 3 rally idea after they received such a huge outpouring of support from community members.
“It’s just amazing … I’ve never lived in a place that people are so giving, without question, There are people who don’t even know them that are stepping up to help,” Kelly said.
Kelly, along with Leanne Velky, Marla’s sister in law, came up with the idea to place donation jars around the village of Cazenovia – and at Max’s soccer game at Fenner Field – in hopes people would drop in one dollar, or whatever they could. From there, the idea just spread and “became organic,” with area businesses suddenly offering to host donation jars, host fundraising events and otherwise help in the cause. Now, the Oct.3 event will include not only 24 blue-ribboned donation jars in locations around the village, also:
• From 9 to 10 a.m.: Baked goods and T-shirts will be sold at Fenner Field during Max’s soccer game.
• From 10 a.m. to noon: Family activities will be held at Caz Equipment.
• From noon to 3 p.m. Classes and a wine tasting will occur at Allure Fitness and Dance, where Marla teaches classes.
• All day: Jars will be out at the Cazenovia Farmers Market and Dave’s Diner, the latter of which has committed to match whatever gets donated into its jar.
• Cocktails, appetizers and a raffle event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at The Stone’s Throw during Couple’s Night Out downtown.
There is also an online fundraising site currently ongoing at YouCaring.com/RallyForTheRegers. The site, which has set a goal of $50,000, has currently raised more than $16,000, Kelly said.
Sadly, this is not the first time the Reger family has faced such adversity. Oldest son Max was diagnosed with cancer when he was 15 months old, and underwent intensive chemotherapy for about two years, Kelly said. “This family has been through so much, and now they’re going through it again,” she said as she choked back tears.
But the community supported the family then and has turned out to support the family again. “It’s nice to live in a place like that,” Kelly said.
For more information on the “Rally for the Regers” Oct.3 event, visit the Facebook page by searching for “Rally for the Regers.” People can also donate online at YouCaring.com/RallyForTheRegers.
