Meet our October Changemaker of the month, Hunter Reh. Hunter is a Freshman at Texas Christian University – Honors College in Fort Worth but still calls San Diego home. He has been involved with CLF for 6 years and was the founder of the Home Run for Chelsea tournament. Additionally, he helped on the documentary Chelsea’s Light: A Brother’s Journey, organized youth umpires for HRC, participated in Finish Chelsea’s Run and created a CLF Club at school. Hunter is a member of the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation recipient, attendee of Mike Sweeney’s Baseball Camp, GO Center Peer Mentor and Options Peer Mentor. He loves baseball, basketball, golf, history and mentoring.
Let’s hear from Hunter in his own words:
CLF: How did you get involved with CLF?
HR: I remember sitting in my 6th grade Social Studies class when my teacher showed us a poster of a missing girl. While everyone was initially shocked, the class went on and for most of us she became an afterthought. After all, we didn’t know her and believed that she’d be found. But as hours turned into days it became clear that Chelsea wasn’t lost. She had been taken. Then, on March 2, 2010, a day that is seared into my memory, Chelsea’s body was found.
When learning the details of her murder, it was as if I had lost someone I’d known my entire life. The connection that I felt was inexplicable and so much bigger than myself. At only 13 years old, my heart had been irrevocably opened, and there was no turning back.
Suddenly I was inspired. Struck by an idea to combine my lifelong passion for baseball with my commitment to honoring Chelsea’s life, Home Run for Chelsea was born. With my dad’s support, I approached Chelsea’s Light Foundation and created an annual baseball tournament designed to raise community awareness of the need for stronger child predator laws. To date, Home Run for Chelsea has raised over $150,000 helping power Chelsea’s Light Foundation’s annual scholarship fund.
CLF: What do you like best about Chelsea/CLF?
HR: I love hearing about Chelsea’s insatiable spirit. Whenever I hear a memory about her she is clearly still very present in the memory. It is remarkable how many lives Chelsea has touched in such a short amount of time. I have such devotion for Chelsea’s Light Foundation because it has helped shape who I am. Chelsea and the Kings have taught me so many great things that have influenced me for the better. Go Big or Go Home and EXTRAordinary are two of the many things they have taught me.
CLF: What is your vision of CLF 5 years from now?
HR: I believe CLF will broaden its national reach. By empowering communities with the education and tools that CLF can provide, we will garner national attention changing legislature across the country. I would love to see Chelsea’s Law passed in all 50 states.
CLF: Any final thoughts?
HR: I would say my main goal in life is to create a better life for my children than the wonderful one that was afforded to me. I want to believe that I will give more to the common collective of humanity than I take from it.
Hunter, you are an inspiration to each of us here at the Chelsea’s Light Foundation and we cannot thank you enough for being the incredible change maker that you are!
