Poland reaches out to help coach after brain surgery

POLAND

When youth wrestling coach Greg Schafer, 43, underwent emergency surgery due to a blood clot and hemorrhage on his brain Feb. 27, it shocked Poland’s community.

But none more than Lisa Weimer, who initiated a school districtwide fundraiser for more than $10,000 on Friday.

Since Schafer is the breadwinner for his family, Weimer knew how difficult life would be for Schafer’s stay-at-home wife, Danielle, and their four children.

“They’re that wholesome, wonderful, giving family, and you’d hate to see it happen to anyone,” she said.

Weimer, 42, said she heard about Schafer’s conditions from her son, whom Schafer coached in wrestling, and decided she had to help Schafer’s family by first providing them meals on an online crowd-funding site, “takethemameal.com” that weekend.

On Feb. 29, Weimer spoke to Poland Schools Superintendent David Janofa about what more could be done. Janofa gave full reign to Weimer and other parents willing to help the family.

Read what happened after that in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.