On December 9, 2005, Alexander Joseph Freund entered this world a healthy, handsome baby boy. At six months, his battle began as he was first diagnosed with failure to thrive. After four years of numerous doctor visits, lab testing, a stay at Mayo Clinic, and many hours of searching, we found our answer. On October 13, 2010, Alex was diagnosed with a gene mutation on the X chromosome, a form of Rett Syndrome.

Rett Syndrome is a progressive neurodevelopmental disease that can be described as a combination of epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, and Parkinson’s disease. Alex’s case is severe because this disease is almost exclusively found in girls as boys with only one X usually do not survive birth.

Now at age six, Alex takes several medications to control seizures, has repetitive Parkinson’s like tremors, has breathing difficulties for which he receives nebulizer treatments, can’t eat solid food, has never stood on his own, taken his first step, or spoken his first words. He receives routine occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy, and requires 24/7care. Alex is mentally impaired but his true cognition is hard to determine, as his difficulty of using his hands and inability to speak makes us wonder what he is trying to tell us but just can’t express in words.

One of his many needs not covered by insurance or Medicaid is a way to travel with his family in his wheelchair. Alex’s family includes his mom Dana, who has the same gene mutation as Alex, dad Adam, and 10 year old brother Zachary. Alex is getting too big for a car seat and too heavy to lift. In order to attend family functions and outside school therapies, Alex needs a wheelchair accessible van.

Please help support this family in need on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at the beautiful, historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles from 3pm to 7pm. We will have entertainment, food, raffles, & auctions.

See Tickets page to register for the event tickets.

See Donate page if you cannot attend but would like to make a donation.

EARLY BIRD DRAWING ONE CHANCE FOR EACH ADULT TICKET PURCHASED
$100 EACH 9/9/12  & 9/23/12 , WITH A $1,000 CASH DRAWING AT THE 10/14/12 EVENT.

THANK YOU

The Historic ARCADA THEATRE in Downtown St. Charles

Sunday October 14th from 2pm to 7pm

105 E Main St., St. Charles, Il 60174

 Arcada Theater Info

SAFE RIDE FOR ALEX

On Stage Entertainment, Food, Music, all to help a Special Needs Child.

Register now, $40 Donation Per Person, $10 children under 15 years old

includes The Show & Food

Raffles – Auctions – Cash Bar

Tickets also available at the door for $45, $10 under 15 yrs.

The Arcada Theater was built in 1926 by local millionaire and Chicago Tribune cartoonist Lester J. Norris. The new theater was a $500,000 example of the Norris family’s confidence in the future of St.   Charles. With only 5,000 residents in town, 1,009 seats were installed. A popular stop on the Vaudeville circuit, the Arcada was described in the St. Charles Chronicle in this quote: “There may be larger theatres in Chicago, but for beauty of auditorium and artistic stage setting, there are none superior to the Arcada of St. Charles.”
Upon the Arcada’s grand opening, the public came in such large numbers that hundreds were unable to gain entrance. Chicagoans arrived by a special railway car to see the featured film “The Last Frontier” and the Vaudeville acts of Fibber McGee and Molly. Patrons also heard a recital on the famous $25,000 Marr and Colton silver and red organ, which was adorned with flamingo carvings.
The Arcada became known as one of the outstanding Vaudeville houses in the Fox River Valley . Many legendary stars have graced the stage, including George Burns and Gracie Allen, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Olivia DeHavilland, the John Phillip Sousa Band, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Vincent Price, Jeanette McDonald, Walter Slezak and Maria Von Trapp, to name a few.

In May 2005, new life was breathed into the aging building when Onesti Entertainment Corporation assumed ownership of theater operations. As a producer of spectacular entertainment experiences all over the country, OEC brought ”BigCity ” shows to the western suburbs ofChicago . But before the stars would come, changes to the infrastructure were vital. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on new dressing rooms, repairs and paint. Upgrades to the sound system, lighting, stage and rest room facilities were also added. Onesti Entertainment exclusively books the talent and produces all the shows.

Today, the “Gem of theFoxValley ” is back to its original state of elegance, complete with the original pipe organ that rises from beneath the stage floor. Some of today’s most iconic stars – including Mickey Rooney, Jerry Lewis and Martin Short – perform before the venue’s nine hundred enthusiastic audience members. With each impactful show, the historic Arcada Theater lives on, enabling thousands to experience the joy of world class entertainment.