"In a way, I feel lucky to have cancer. It’s allowed me to do things that I would not have normally done."
– Charles “Bob” Hirsch |
Bob died from leukemia three years ago, about a month after his 21st birthday.
"Bob loved beer," said Bob’s friend Manny. "When he turned 21, I went up to Alaska for his 21 Run with all his friends."
Bob had relapsed again.
"This time they told him there was nothing they could do for him," Manny said. "That was really tough. He realized his days were numbered."
On Monday – May 14, Bob’s birthday – Bob lives again. That’s the day Manny Chao, an owner and brewer at Seattle’s Georgetown Brewing Company, releases Bob’s Beer, a brown ale brewed to commemorate Bob and to raise money for a children’s charity.
MEET BOB
Bob isn’t Bob’s real name. Bob’s real name is Charles Hirsch. At Camp Goodtimes, the Vashon Island summer retreat for children with cancer where Manny met Bob and everybody has a camp name, Bob said, "Just call me Bob."
"I was his counselor back in 1999," Manny said. "He had gone through remission and was doing fine."
Bob was 16 years old. He was in Manny’s leadership training.
"Instead of just being campers where they get to go fishing, they really have more of a purpose of being there," Manny said. "They get a chance to be assistant counselors and help out."
Back home in Alaska, Bob did volunteer and charity work. He won an Inspiration Award from the Juneau Cancer Society.
"He was very instrumental when he was at Children’s Hospital, talking to kids and just being inspiring," Manny said. "He wanted to come back and be a counselor, but unfortunately his health wouldn’t allow it."
Read more »
