Photo Courtesy of Dave Hoffenberg
Local celebrities are covered in pie at a past fundraising event to raising money for Chase William Kuehl and the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation.
By Dave Hoffenberg
KILLINGTON—On Sunday, Sept. 10, Moguls Sports Pub will host the annual Pie in the Face benefit challenge from 2-7 p.m.
It’s time again to pie local celebrities and raise money for Chase William Kuehl and the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF). Kuehl is one of only 1,500 children worldwide diagnosed with this disease. The prevalence of those with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is estimated to be between 1 in 20,000 babies born. There is no cure, but it is PMSF’s goal to find effective therapies to help those with PMS, and, eventually, a cure.
Last year, $9,000 was raised, and organizers hope to keep growing that number. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to Chase William Kuehl and PMSF, with an equal 50/50 split. This year, organizers have also decided to give a $500 scholarship to a PMSF family in need to help them attend the bi-annual conference that families learn of the therapies that will help them with their children.
For $22 (the disease is a deletion of chromosome 22), participants get to pie two people in the face with a whipped cream pie. Or, purchase a Golden Pie for $50 and smack someone with a juicy blueberry, cherry or pumpkin pie. Pie as many people as you want — just bring cash or check. Moguls supplies all the ingredients, plus over 25 people to pie.
Can’t make the event? Visit pieinthefaceforchase.com where you can buy pies to pie people from afar, then watch it live on Facebook from the page of the same name.
New local celebrities this year include: Uncle Dave (94.5 The Drive’s Morning Show Radio Personality), Neal Giberti, Kyler Kuehl (Chase’s older brother), Dray Weymouth, Dan Wall (the father of a PMS child in Boston), David Parnell, Jason Evans and Ryan Orabone.
Returning to be pied for a second year are: Heather Grev, Jeremy “Creeper” Rayner, Matt Hauck, Tucker Adirondack, Karri Barrett Tomasi and Mike Solimano (president of Killington Resort).
Returning to be pied for a third year are: Chandler Burgess (The King of Spring), Don Sady, Karena Kuehl (Chase’s older sister), Amy Fuller Ahlberg and Jared Hall.
And returning to be pied for a four year are: DJ Dave Hoffenberg, Rick Kuehl (Chase’s father), Sasha Parise, Sal Salmeri (owner of Moguls), Peter Whittier, Linda Alberque Ross, Kelly Spear and Colleen Collord.
Kuehl was diagnosed with this disease in January 2012 when he was a little over a year old. His mother, Annie Kuehl, said, “We were floored when it happened, but this is our journey now.”
Since the disease is so rare, Rick Kuehl said, “This is not the lottery we wanted to win.” They have their struggles, but they have an amazing loving child in Chase Kuehl. Annie said, “Chase’s life and world are affected by Phelan McDermid Syndrome in so many different ways and there are days that I can’t understand why he has to be one of the 1,500 in the world. But Chase is still Chase … He knows love and gives and receives it freely. He amazes me daily and reminds what life is truly about.”
This is a horrible disease, but a great cause. Head to Moguls on Sunday.
“I can’t say enough about the people that support Chase and the foundation through this fun filled event. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people who want to help us provide the best for our little angel. The money raised will go to support the foundations efforts to improve the lives of children with PMS around the world as well as The Chase William Kuehl Trust, which will help provide services and support for Chase as he grows,” Rich Kuehl added.
