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Magician Keith Cobb Brings Joy as
Festival of Lights Begins |
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Keith Cobb |
Hanukkah begins this evening and for many children it will be a
day of excitement as the festival of lights begins. The event is usually
celebrated at home but for children undergoing long-term medical care, this can
be a lonely time.
Chicago Magician
Keith Cobb brightened their day with a show. The Chicago Tribune noted,
"For many of the small patients, it was a time to avoid thinking about the
needles, surgeries, medicine and tests that go along with their illnesses. At
the party, they focused on the ropes that Keith the Magician tried to untangle
instead of the intravenous tubes in their arms."
Keith the Magician
worked with the incredible organization the Chai Lifeline dedicated to
helping hospitalized children celebrate special events regardless of their
religious affiliation but especially Jewish children who are otherwise
inundated with Christmas themes.
The Chai Lifeline
brought singing, lighting of the menorah and presents to the children. The
Midwest region of Chai Lifeline boasts a network of 140 families and is part of
a larger network across the country.
A particularly
touching part of the story involves Victoria Charneske, a three year-old child
in her sixth week for bowel lengthening surgery. She watched Keith Cobb perform
and clapped her hands as a rabbit puppet appeared from a magic hat. "She
really enjoyed it," her mother, Helena, said.
Victoria's nurses couldn't help but notice how cheery the girl was as
she returned to her room. With her monitor still beeping, she ran down the hall
to the nurses' station holding up the Winnie the Pooh coloring book she had
unwrapped.
Big props to Keith
Cobb and the Chai Lifeline for their wonderful work and contributions to make
the magic of the season available to all children. You can check out Mr. Cobb's
website here. If you're interested in the Chai Lifeline,
click here. We'll put Mr. Cobb's link on our Inside
Magic Links of Fame.
Mr. Cobb has incredible accolades and
experience in our Art including:
Keith has been
performing professionally since 1991. He has been the President of the Wizards
Club of Chicago since 1996. It is the oldest independent magic club in the
Midwest celebrating its 70th year last November.
Some of Keith's
magic awards include:
Winner of the
Wizards Club Stage Magic Contest 1996;
Winner of the
Beyond the Five Senses E.S.P. Magic Contest 2000 & 2003;
Winner of the
Wizards Club Close-Up Magic Contest 1998;
Winner of the
Bob Sharpe Millennium Stage Magic Contest 2000, 2002 & 2003; and
Finalist in the
Best of Chicago's Stage Magician Contest 1996.
Add to that
list our respect for his willingness to give so much to make a difference to
children.
Copyright 2004 by Inside Magic