The following article ran in The Kane County Chronicle, 8/26/15. To view, click here.

Elburn Boy Scout raising money for Marklund

 By ERIC SCHELKOPF – eschelkopf@shawmedia.com

ELBURN – Boy Scout Rob Simmons wants the clients at the Marklund facility near Geneva to have another therapy bike.

Scouts say reaching Eagle status hard work, but worth the effort

Marklund is a nonprofit agency serving adults and children with severe developmental disabilities. On Saturday, Simmons, a member of Boy Scout Troop 7 in Elburn, is organizing a walk to raise $8,000 to buy another therapy bike for Marklund.

Simmons is organizing the event for his Eagle Scout project. Part of the requirements for a Boy Scout to receive the Eagle Scout award is to do a project that benefits the community.

Walk of a Lifetime will be from 4 to 10 p.m. at Marklund, 1S450 Wyatt Drive near Geneva in the Mill Creek subdivision.

The event will start with an opening flag ceremony at 4 p.m., followed by a ceremonial lap by Marklund residents.

After the closing ceremony at 8 p.m., the movie “Field of Dreams” will be shown on the baseball field on the Marklund campus. Registration for the walk is $50 a person, and is available by going to the website, www.walkofalifetiime.myevent.com. Those who want to register online should note there are two i’s in lifetime in the link.

Financial donations also are being collected at Old Second Bank, 749 N. Main St., Elburn.

Marklund President/CEO Gilbert Fonger said he appreciated Simmons’ efforts.

“The fact that he chose to help Marklund for his Eagle Scout project is very humbling to us,” Fonger said.

Fonger said the project also is helping to create awareness of what Marklund does.

“It is getting a lot of people to know about us,” he said.