Silver Cross Stroke Patient Committed to Collecting Toys for Will County Kids

News

Joliet, IL (July 25, 2011) — After suffering from two small strokes in the last year and undergoing months of extensive therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) at Silver Cross Hospital, Patricia “Pat” Heeg refuses to let her illness stop her from collecting toys for the children of Will County. For the past three years, Heeg has been President of the Reindeer Toy Run, which is hosted by the American Legion Post #13 in Plainfield, where she organizes a 100-mile motorcycle run. All proceeds for the event go to the children in Will County whose parents can’t afford to buy Christmas gifts.

Photo Caption: Pictured during a therapy session using the Lite Gait machine are Jaime Holzhauser, Physical Therapist Assistant for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross Hospital, and Lockport resident and physical therapy patient Patricia Heeg.

 “To give back to these kids is such a worthwhile cause,” said Lockport resident Heeg. “Every child should have a happy holiday season and I’m not allowing my illness to slow me down from collecting donations for the Reindeer Toy Run. I’m still fully committed to helping the kids.”

Even though Heeg does therapy three times a week for three hours each day, she still manages to find the energy and motivation to visit area businesses asking them for their support in providing monetary or toy donations for the Reindeer Toy Run.