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Elise Pacheco’s grandson is her motivation.
“My 9-year-old grandson was diagnosed with a serious heart condition in February,” Pacheco said.
Christopher Pacheco was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick.
After he was diagnosed, Elise Pacheco decided she would try to help her grandson, and others like him, by raising money for the American Heart Association.
“There’s really nothing we can do about it,” she said. “So I figure this is my way of doing something positive to help.”
The Wheaton resident became a team leader of the DuPage Medical Group’s fundraising team in Glen Ellyn and is hosting an event at Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant in Downers Grove from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. All proceeds from the event will be going straight to the American Heart Association.
“The generosity and the outpouring of donations was more than I ever thought,” Elise Pacheco said.
She mass mailed businesses as far as Wisconsin looking for items to raffle off at the event.
“I thought I’d be lucky to get a dozen,” Elise Pacheco said.
In fact, she has almost lost count, but the biggest item so far is an iPod donated by Bird is the Word in Batavia.
In addition, the event will feature music by Hot Rocks, a Rolling Stones tribute band based in the Chicago area, who agreed to play at the event to raise money.
The band’s manager, Dana Bloom, said Pacheco approached her about the event and the band was happy to oblige. The band has performed at fundraisers for cancer, heart disease and the Make a Wish foundation.
“Everybody has families and we’ve had problems, so everybody is giving,” Bloom said.
Elise Pacheco said her grandson takes his condition in stride. Though the condition will remain as is for a few years, there’s a good possibility Christopher will be placed on a transplant list. His heart is not pumping enough blood to support his activities, which results often in fatigue and dizziness.
“I want to see him and other children have normal lives,” she said. “He’s missing out on his youth and I know a lot of others are, too.”
Elise Pacheco’s grandson is her motivation.
“My 9-year-old grandson was diagnosed with a serious heart condition in February,” Pacheco said.
Christopher Pacheco was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick.
After he was diagnosed, Elise Pacheco decided she would try to help her grandson, and others like him, by raising money for the American Heart Association.
“There’s really nothing we can do about it,” she said. “So I figure this is my way of doing something positive to help.”
The Wheaton resident became a team leader of the DuPage Medical Group’s fundraising team in Glen Ellyn and is hosting an event at Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant in Downers Grove from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. All proceeds from the event will be going straight to the American Heart Association.
“The generosity and the outpouring of donations was more than I ever thought,” Elise Pacheco said.
She mass mailed businesses as far as Wisconsin looking for items to raffle off at the event.
“I thought I’d be lucky to get a dozen,” Elise Pacheco said.
In fact, she has almost lost count, but the biggest item so far is an iPod donated by Bird is the Word in Batavia.
In addition, the event will feature music by Hot Rocks, a Rolling Stones tribute band based in the Chicago area, who agreed to play at the event to raise money.
The band’s manager, Dana Bloom, said Pacheco approached her about the event and the band was happy to oblige. The band has performed at fundraisers for cancer, heart disease and the Make a Wish foundation.
“Everybody has families and we’ve had problems, so everybody is giving,” Bloom said.
Elise Pacheco said her grandson takes his condition in stride. Though the condition will remain as is for a few years, there’s a good possibility Christopher will be placed on a transplant list. His heart is not pumping enough blood to support his activities, which results often in fatigue and dizziness.
“I want to see him and other children have normal lives,” she said. “He’s missing out on his youth and I know a lot of others are, too.”
