St. Charles Drill Teams prepare for annual Kick-A-Thon fundraiser
Each year, new dancers try out to be part of an exciting program on their respective high school dance teams.
Besides the excitement that comes with performing at football and basketball games, along with their own IHSA competition season, little do they realize the profound impact they will have on a fundraiser that began 22 years ago and has helped so many local families who have been afflicted with cancer.
That event is known as Kick-A-Thon, and gives everyone involved a true sense of what it means to be a part of something big. In fact, this year, that something big lies in the goal of raising enough to reach an overall 22 year total of $1,000,000 in contributions to be donated locally in the Tri-Cities area to the Fox Valley Chapter of The American Cancer Society, LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, and Fox Valley Food for Health.
The St. Charles East and North Drill Teams recently came together at North High School for a breakfast to kick off their annual event.
The dancers and their new community kickers were welcomed with opening remarks by St. Charles North High School principal Audra Christenson, followed by St. Charles Mayor Raymond Rogina, who offered his reflections and support for this tremendous cause.
Kari Batka, director of Kick-A-Thon Advisory Board and one of the founding members, remembered many friends, but specifically spoke of a dear friend who recently passed. Batka described Ann Byington as a wonderful mother, teacher, friend, and volunteer who impacted so many people in our St. Charles community and who is also the mother of St. Charles East head drill team coach, Hanna Byington. She recalled her remarkable courage and said "Ann made what mattered matter".
"This year, although we honor and kick for so many, the girls will also be reminded of Ann Byington, whose initials are placed on the dancers shirts to remind us all of her bravery, and to inspire us to exceed our fundraising goals this year in her honor, as well as to honor so many whom we fondly recall who have fought or continue to fight this terrible disease."
They were also privileged to hear stories from Maggie Kluck, senior manager of Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society; Chris Hensley, founder and board member of LivingWell Cancer Resource Center; and Mary Fremgen, program director for Fox Valley Food for Health. Each and every representative could not thank the drill team members enough for their ongoing volunteering and generosity to their organizations, acknowledging the tremendous work and effort that has made Kick-A-Thon such a successful fundraiser. Chris Hensley expressed his gratitude to those in attendance and stated "as you come together you epitomize what it means to be a community".
Lastly, they had the honor of hearing the story of Mackenzie Kowalski, a freshman student and new member of the St. Charles East JV Drill Team who was personally diagnosed with a Rhabdomayosarcoma orbital tumor behind her right eye, a very rare cancer, shortly after her first birthday. Mackenzie shared with us the details of the day her mother came to get her up from her afternoon nap and noticed her eye looked like it was being pushed out, as if something were behind it. Motherly instinct clearly knew something was just not right. "Her parents immediately rushed to the doctor and received the worst news of their lives," according to Mackenzie. After a biopsy and rounds of tests to confirm it had not spread anywhere else in her tiny, young body, they began treatment. She endured weekly chemotherapy for one year and daily radiation for 5 weeks, along with having cataract surgery at age 4, and continues having regular checkups with her oncologist. She described to the room full of teary-eyed guests that her mom and dad tried to keep things as normal as possible for her and her sister, who was only 2½ years old at the time of Mackenzie's diagnosis. Although young herself, Mackenzie recalls that her sister, Megan, would play with her as if nothing was wrong and that "she never looked at me funny when my hair fell out" or "when my eye was red from radiation". They remain very close to this day and enjoy having the opportunity to share their love of dance by both being members of the East drill team together. Despite how difficult that time was in their family's life, and the need for Mackenzie to continue to have to be diligent with eye drops and routines that come with being a cancer survivor, their family has grown stronger and remains closer than ever. Her parents, sister, and brother were able to attend the breakfast where Mackenzie shared, with remarkable courage, her personal journey and where she was able to happily say she has now been cancer free for 13 years.
Stories like these remind us of why we "kick", and why we continue to raise funds for research and services that we hope might help eradicate a disease that has touched far too many families. If you would like to help in our fight to kick cancer please go to our website at www.kick-a-thon.org to learn more about our event, becoming a Corporate Sponsor, and where you can donate directly to help us reach our $1,000,000 goal. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated in our efforts to help those who need it most.
Join them on Friday, Oct. 16, for Kick-A-Thon 2015 before the varsity football game at St. Charles East High School where the drill team members, corporate sponsors, and community kickers will form a giant kick line and do 100 kicks in the name of fighting cancer. Hope to see you there for an exciting and heartwarming night.
To learn more about Kick-A-Thon or to donate online, visit www.Kick-A-Thon.org.