The wheels are in motion for a 2023-2024 Unite & Fight!

2019 RECIPIENT
OFFICER EMILY KROB, BROOKLYN PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT
This year's recipient is Officer Emily Krob of Brooklyn Park, a 2013 and 2015 Unite + Fight competitor, who was diagnosed in the fall with rhabdomysarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue that is rare in adults.

2018 RECIPIENT
SERGEANT RORY BOCHNIAK, BURNSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
This year’s recipient is Sergeant Rory Bochniak, a dedicated veteran from the Burnsville Police Department. Shortly after retirement, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s; a rapidly progressive form. After diagnosis, Rory’s doctors advised there is no viable treatment option, only to live his life as there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. Rory used the funds from the event to aid in his treatment.

2017 RECIPIENT
BRIAN KOKESH, NORTH MEMORIAL AIR CARE UNIT
On January 4 , 2017 Brian was snowmobiling alone when his snowmobile was submerged in a drainage ditch with open water. He was found several hours later in subzero freezing temperatures and was in full cardiac arrest when he was flown to HCMC. After hours of being rewarmed to normal body temperature, and days of being unresponsive, Brian became awake and alert and able to communicate. He suffered severe frostbite and had surgery to amputate both of his hands, both of his lower legs, his ears and part of his nose. Brian is married with 4 children in high school. Unite + Fight funds were able to help the Kokesh family with medical bills.

2016 RECIPIENT
DAVE MUELLER, ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT
No stranger to the Unite + Fight scene, Sergeant Dave Mueller helped coach boxers for Unite + Fight events in 2013 – 2015 using his extensive experience in martial arts experience. Little did he know that in 2016 he would become a beneficiary when he suffered a stroke on the job. After undergoing a procedure to remove a clot from his brain, Dave was fortunate to get the use of his left side back, but unfortunately, during the procedure to remove the clot, a small piece broke off and went behind his right eye, and he lost partial vision in the eye. The funds from Unite + Fight 2016 helped pay for medical bills and much needed rehabilitation.

2015 RECIPIENT
CRAIG GROMEK, ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT
Officer Craig Gromek, age 52, was diagnosed with ALS and dementia in 2013 and had to retire from the police department. The support from Unite + Fight, along with regular visits from the officers Craig once worked with, “makes this horrible journey a little easier because I’m not alone,” his wife, Ruth Gromek said. “The outpouring of love is just amazing.”

2014 RECIPIENT
CARLOS BAIRES ESCOBAR, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Carlos was a Minneapolis police officer for 6 years when he was diagnosed with Lupus in 2008, which unfortunately also affected his kidneys. In 2014 Carlos went into renal failure and was on dialysis every night for 7 months. Carlos was on the national kidney transplant list for almost 2 years when he posted his story on Facebook and a donor that read about his situation stepped forward to donate a kidney. The Unite + Fight funds helped Carlos with his medical bills and his recovery time off the job.

2013 RECIPIENTS
MIKE PHILLIPS & NAKIA SANDRIDGE (pictured above), ST. PAUL FIREFIGHTERS
Mike and Nakia’s stories and health issues are what helped create Unite + Fight.