My dear friends, the O’Connells, have 9-year-old son battling Cystic Fibrosis – and winning.  Doctors have really made some huge strides in recent years thanks to fundraising efforts like the annual Shamrockin’ For a Cure to Kick CF’s Butt.  What started in the upstairs party room of a bar in Forest Park has expanded into an enormous event at the Local 150 Union Hall ballroom on Joliet Road in Countryside.  Thousands of local supporters gathered to party for a great cause and learn a little bit about the advances in CF treatment.  It’s encouraging to see so many familiar faces gathering together to bring about positive change as families on the CF front lines fight a daily battle.

The party itself features plenty of beer & booze, plus pizza from the legendary Casciani’s Pizzeria right down the block in Hodgkins.  The event pulls folks from a great community and I never have a bad time.  The crowd grows each year.  Soon they’ll have to rent out Allstate Arena.

The OC brothers, Matt & Bob, didn’t even plan these matching shirt & coat, it just happened.

They raised a bunch of $$ again this year and they’ll keep bringing the fight year after year.  See y’all there again in 2020.

BTW, somebody handed me this beer as we filed out to an Uber on our way to the after party at Kenny’s Tavern.  Good lager out of Madison, from what my taste buds recall after a full night of beer drinking.  12 oz Curl, get it? Heh.