Dream Comes True for 12-Year-Old Battling Cancer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Bill Pankonin
Regional Owner
EXIT Realty Upper Midwest
612 414 4022
bill@exitumw.com

 Dream Comes True for 12-Year-Old Battling Cancer

Minnesota Outdoor Adventure Foundation Supports Children with Life Threatening Illnesses

Lakeville, Minnesota (Grassroots Newswire) 10/10/19 -- While undergoing treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma (cancer of the soft tissue), David  Jimenez dreamed of fishing, and his mother, was bound and determined not to disappoint him.

12 year old David Jimenez from Jordan, MN was diagnosed with rhabdomyosanoma in March 2019. After 2 surgeries and chemo, David & family just returned from a Brainerd Lakes fishing adventure with Nate Berg. They caught a ton of fish including some large, hard fighting whitefish. They stayed at the Arrowwood Lodge in Brainerd with tickets to the indoor water park while they weren't fishing.

Nate Berg, owner of Nate Berg Fishing Guides and a volunteer with the Minnesota Outdoor Adventure Foundation, was paired up with David.  “When David said he wanted to ‘catch a fish in the middle of a lake’ I knew we had to target some whitefish, and let me tell you, we kicked some serious butt catching fish. It was more catching than fishing!” said Berg, “David is a true gentleman at the ripe age of twelve. We had some deep conversations on what he likes; his schooling, what he wishes to do and so on.  We also touched on his illness, but our conversation always returned to being in the outdoors.”

In 2013, the Outdoor Adventure Foundation came to Minnesota when avid outdoorsman, Bill Pankonin, discovered their important work during a fishing trip to Northern Minnesota.  Farming, hunting, fishing and service to others are a way of life for Pankonin, the Regional Owner of EXIT Realty Upper Midwest, who grew up in Sanborn, in South Western Minnesota.

“During that trip, I witnessed a bunch of kids who were very excited because one young boy had caught the fish-of-a-lifetime through an ice hole on a frozen lake.  When I congratulated him, I noticed that he and several others in the group had lost their hair.  I came to learn that they were undergoing treatment for cancer, but as I witnessed their joy that day on the lake it was clear to me that their life-threatening illnesses at that moment were the last thing on their mind.”

Pankonin inquired how they came to be on the lake that day and learned that Outdoor Adventure Foundation had provided the opportunity.  These children and the mission of the Foundation resonated with Pankonin, and he was approached by organization’s founders to bring a chapter to Minnesota.

Today, Pankonin serves on the board of the Minnesota Outdoor Adventure Foundation, helps with fundraising and he is a familiar face as the Master or Ceremonies during their annual fundraiser. The Minnesota chapter of the Outdoor Adventure Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit that helps to make outdoor dreams come true for children and young adults with life-threatening illnesses as well as for combat-disabled veterans.  In 2018 more than 100 families of children battling life-threatening illnesses as well as combat wounded veterans were able to go on a trip of a lifetime.

In 2019, the organization received an added boost from the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Program.  Pankonin’s company, EXIT Realty Upper Midwest, is a member of EXIT Realty Corp. International’s family of independently owned and operated sub-franchisors and brokerages across the U.S. and Canada.  A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund.  Through the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Program, EXIT offices and associates can raise money for local, approved, registered charities and apply to EXIT’s head office to have those funds matched from the company’s pledged pool of funds.  The fund matched the money raised by Pankonin during their annual fundraiser in the amount of $5,000 for a total donation to the Minnesota Outdoor Adventure Foundation of $10,000.

“From the bottom of my heart, I can’t say thank you enough to the people of EXIT Realty and the other companies that donate their time, money and efforts to make the Outdoor Foundation trips possible,” said Berg.  “As a fishing guide it is truly one of my greatest honors to be associated with such wonderful people that work hard to put smiles on children like David and wounded vets who need a break from the everyday grind of life.  It is truly a pleasure to witness the smiles of not only the recipients but also their families as well.  As long as I am a guide, the Foundation has my full support.”

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For more information about EXIT Realty Upper Midwest, please call 612 414 4022. EXIT Realty Upper Midwest is located at 20765 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044.

About EXIT Realty:
EXIT is a proven real estate business model that has to-date paid out more than a third of a billion dollars in single-level residual income to its associates across the U.S. and Canada. EXIT Realty’s Expert Marketing Suite™ including geolocation Smart Sign™ technology gives home sellers the edge in a competitive marketplace. The company’s Focus on Good Health blog promotes wellness at work and home. A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund and to-date, $5.5 million has been pledged to charity.  For more information, please visit www.exitrealty.com.

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Documents and/or Photos available for this release:

Caption(s):
David Jimenez, Jordan MN recipient of trip of a lifetime from Minnesota Outdoor Adventure Foundation and matching grants from EXIT Realty Upper Midwest.
Spirit of EXIT matching grant program for agents in their communities to support local charities
David Jimenez and family let his mother catch the first fish!

To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 429228