They say that the craft brewing world is a supportive one and I've found that to be true. Now, the founders of 1840 Brewing Co., which has a brewery in Bay View and a second taproom in West Bend, need some help.
Here's what co-founder Kyle Vetter shared on social media on Friday...
"With a heavy heart but unwavering hope, I need to share the news that my wife and co-founder of 1840 Stephanie, has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer.
"While she undergoes treatment she will be unable to work. My ability to work will be greatly reduced so I can provide full time care to Steph and so we can spend as much time together with our daughters as possible.
"If you have the means, please consider donating to the fundraiser that my family and staff worked to set up for her.
"If you can’t donate, no worries! Come into one of our taprooms and have a beer with us and we can talk about how sh!tty cancer is. Our amazing staff could use the support too as they are all stepping up huge right now.
"Thank you in advance for sending all of the positive energy and healing vibes her way! We love and appreciate you all.
~Kyle"
You know what to do, caring Milwaukeeans and supportive craft beer community. It's time to lend a hand.
Here is a link to the fundraiser and as Kyle notes, if this doesn't work for you, please support the brewery and its owners and their team at this difficult time.
I'm pleased to say that at the time of writing, just over $25,000 has been raised toward a $200,000 goal.
Kyle also tells me that there might also be a formal fundraising event of some kind coming up soon. He promised to share details and when we get those I will update this post.
Thank you.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
