17-05-2025
Ty Eschenbaum: how cancer and loss now helps others
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —For many people, when they run into adversity or trying times, it's easy to give up and focus only on themselves. But one man that has taken his trials, and in turn, benefited others.
We've brought you the story of Ty Eschenbaum for years, starting when he had cancer in high school.
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'Diagnosed when I was 15 with leukemia and kind of a unique diagnosis in that I didn't have any classic symptoms. I, you know, ran region track meet like, three weeks before I ran one of my best quarter times,' Ty Eschenbaum said.
Like many people, that diagnosis changed his life.
'I went from, you know, lifting weights and playing sports and being 155 pounds down to at one point I was 105 pounds, couldn't walk, couldn't even stand, couldn't even hold my own weight,' Eschenbaum said.
It was during that bout with cancer, that Eschenbaum was granted a Make-a-Wish.
'Having my whole family involved was important to me. So I chose Disney World. So pretty original when it comes to Make-A-Wish, but it was awesome,' Eschenbaum said.
At that point in his life, he knew he wanted to do what he could for other children with cancer.
'There's a lot of families that we got to know and kids that I got to know that didn't make it. And I just felt strongly that I'm still here, and I'm supposed to do something with this,' Eschenbaum said.
In 2011, Eschenbaum officially started his foundation, when he wrote a check for $250. From there, it has only grown.
'We have three pillars of the foundation. So originally, we've always funded youth cancer survivors, in the form of scholarships in the state of South Dakota. I think we're the only entity that specifically does that in our state. And then, when I lost a younger brother, two and a half years ago, that's a pillar with our missionary ministry focus. And, five years ago, when I lost my girlfriend, that was the second pillar, the Make-A-Wish pillar,' Eschenbaum said.
Over the years, KELOLAND News has been there for some of Eschenbaum's donations to Make-A-Wish kids. His foundation has donated $315,000 to Make-A-Wish.
To help Eschenbaum and his foundation with its mission, a fishing and golf tournament is being held up near Lake Poinsett.
Jake Schoenbeck has attended The Summer Classic, and his employer Plains Commerce Bank is this year's presenting sponsor. He participates in the golf part of the tournament. He says that it's a little different from other golf tournaments.
'There's also like a DJ on one hole and he's like, playing music with there's a bar there that will drive around like jello shots and stuff like that. There's games and stuff,' Jake Schoenbeck said.
'It starts off with a lot of excitement on Friday morning because the golfers are running around and they're trying to get warmed up and then, you know, the entertainment of just watching the teams take off and get moving in and shaking and just the organization of the whole event is just fun to watch,' Lynn Jurrens said.
The fishing aspect of the tournament is something that also has a high appeal.
Lynn Jurrens has attended the Summer Classic since it started.
'The reason there's so many fishing teams that show up is because you can have, multiple people in the boat if you want to take your family, if you want to take your friends, if you want to take a kid fishing for the day, it all works out just really, really cool,' Jurrens said.
But what makes all the difference to the attendees, is what their money is going towards.
'I'm going to be out golfing almost every weekend anyway. So when you get to do it for an event like that, to kind of just makes it a little more special. You're more willing to, you know, throw money at things, whether it's some stupid game you're going to play and try to get another shot in the hole, or you're chipping into this little basket to try to get a closer drive,' Schoenbeck said.
'People are just excited. They want to be a part of it. They want to raise money, and they want to raise money because they feel that it's being used wisely,' Jurrens said.
And watching Eschenbaum at the helm of the charge is something that sticks out.
'Losing his fiance, losing his brother, him having cancer, all these things and still being such a powerful voice and being everywhere in the community. I feel like every time I'm out at a big event, Ty's there,' Schoenbeck said.
'That character, the resilience to overcome, those are attractive traits in people. And, they're special people to be around. And we, as the lucky people that get to be around him, can build off that. That's what's special about Ty,' Jurrens said.
The Summer Classic takes place on June 6th and 7th, but space is limited.
Click here for more information about The Summer Classic.
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