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Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo Reaches Out To Illinois Boy Beaten In Horrible School Attack

A terrible assault on a Chicago-area middle school student has led Anthony Rizzo to respond with an extremely generous gesture.

Cubs’Anthony Rizzo Offers Game Tickets To 12-Year-Old Assault Victim

Henry Sembdner, a 12-year-old boy from South Elgin, Illinois was attacked after he bumped into another student in the hall of Kenyon Woods Middle School on Friday. Sembdner ended up in a coma after sustaining head injuries and facial fractures.

Upon learning of the assault, Cubs first baseman Rizzo reached out to the family of the boy, who is a fan of the reigning World Series champion Cubs:

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Tickets and batting practice passes for a Cubs game at Wrigley Field sounds like a great deal, and no doubt this boy will appreciate it.

Rizzo also made the effort to remain informed of how Henry’s school was handling his assault, and when he heard the school would be wearing Cubs apparel to express their support for the beaten seventh-grade boy. The first baseman encouraged everyone to participate.

Since Monday, Rizzo’s Twitter feed has been filled with photos of people supporting Henry by wearing Cubs gear. Henry’s mother Karen tweeted a photo of her whole family including her son at Rizzo to let the Cubs star know Henry is finally home from the hospital and is recovering.

Rizzo responded to the tweet to express his relief the boy was finally home.

Henry was taken to Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin before being transferred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

Two GoFundMe pages have been set up to help the Sembdner family with medical expenses. As of Monday, one page had raised more than $17,500 and the other had raised $7,400.

Clearly, Henry is receiving lots of support, and Rizzo’s attention was greatly appreciated.

Police said their investigation is ongoing to determine whether or not the boy who committed the assault should face criminal charges.

CHICAGO, IL – JULY 18: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs points to the dugout as he runs the bases after hitting a three run home run in the 3rd inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on July 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

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