Marek Hill, who graduated from Fenwick High School in late May, not only has been training for his college football career this summer, he’s also found time to give back to the community.
The Oak Park resident, who plans to play quarterback collegiately at Amherst College in Massachusetts, took part in the second annual QBs 4 The Cure event, June 22 at Thompson Middle School in St. Charles. Hill, along with several other current and recent high school quarterbacks and wide receivers participated in passing and receiving drills led by Mike Hohensee, a quarterback at the University of Minnesota and the Chicago Bears in the ’80s. He was also the head coach for the Chicago Rush of the now-defunct Arena Football League, and led the team to the 2006 AFL championship, defeating the Orlando Predators 69-61.
While receiving training and guidance from an accomplished player and coach is always nice, QBs 4 The Cure has a greater purpose: raising money for cancer research. For event creator Doug Lang, it has deep personal meaning.
“On April 11, 2023, my wife Rachel was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer,” he said. “Ironically, she’s a career oncology RN who has treated and supported cancer patients for 20 years, but became a patient herself. Rachel was equipped, as well as possible, to forge and execute her care plan and treatment; however, myself and our four kids (Maia, Emma, Jakob, and Nate) were not so equipped.”
Lang, who coaches youth football, and his son Nate, a rising sophomore quarterback at IC Catholic Prep, decided to use what they knew best — football — as a vehicle to fight cancer. They partner with Cancer Smashers, a nonprofit organization that facilitates donations to the Robert H. Lurie Center for Comprehensive Cancer Research.
Hill missed last year’s event due to scheduling conflicts but was determined to make it this year. In an interview with Wednesday Journal, he said it was well worth his time.
“I felt I was part of something bigger than myself,” Hill said. “I was part of a great group of people who came together to support a cause. I wanted to raise awareness and do what I do. … The biggest thing you can do when you have a platform like most athletes is to not be selfish, but to help people around you.”
“Marek is the first player who contacted us to get involved last year, revealing his character immediately as a young man who understands being a servant for others,” said Lang. “He’s a very humble young man too; he’s amazing.”
Hill knows Hohensee through his grandfather, Ike Hill, a wide receiver for the Bears in the ’70s (Marek’s father, Talmadge Hill, played QB at OPRF High School in the late ’90s. Currently, he’s an assistant coach for Fenwick’s varsity). They met at a Bears alumni event, and Hohensee invited Marek to the event.
“I got to know Mr. Lang through researching the event on Twitter,” Hill said. “I got to meet some really good guys, and that was really cool. We weren’t out there to make money; we were there to raise money for those who really need it.”
Lang came away impressed with the skills Hill displayed during the drills and says that bodes well for his future.
“He’s got the mechanics, strength, and learner’s attitude,” he said. “He’s capable of making all the throws. Marek has an incredibly high ceiling and a very bright future. Amherst’s got themselves a major talent coming.”
Hill, who had a preferred walk-on offer at Northwestern University among others, said he decided to go to Amherst because it felt ideal for him.
“I really like the offensive scheme, and I’ve got a great group of guys I’m coming in with,” he said. “When I visited with my parents, they loved it, and it was just the perfect fit for me. Amherst is up there [academically] with some of the Ivy League schools, and I can’t complain at all. I’m really blessed and grateful.”
As Hill prepares to move to the Northeast next month, he looks back and is appreciative of his time at Fenwick.
“I’ll take a lot from Fenwick, most notably the work ethic instilled in me,” he said. “I’m going to take the obstacles that were thrown my way and show how I grew from them and take the academic rigors I had and use them at the next level.”
Hill’s favorite memory is being a part of the Friars’ 2021 IHSA Class 5A football state championship team. He said he learned a lot from starting quarterback Kaden Cobb, now at Howard University.
“He helped develop my game a lot,” said Hill. “I appreciate the experience.”
Hill also enjoys giving back to the community for a worthwhile cause. Last year, according to Lang, QBs 4 The Cure exceeded its fundraising goal by almost 30 percent and this year, donations are strong again.
It’s not too late to make donations; if you would like to do so, please visit qbs4thecure.com. There you can find more information about the event, as well as purchase apparel, whose proceeds also go to charity.
For more about Hohensee, please visit coachho.com.