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Award to honor spirit, singing of Naperville teen battling cancer

A Naperville eighth-grader called "extraordinary" for his spirit as he battles brain cancer - and for his singing - is being honored for both during a concert on Sunday.

Aleks Lazic will receive the second annual Kingston Award from the children's theater troupe with which he performed three shows in 2013, Kidz Kabaret.

Kandiss Hernandez, executive director, said Aleks made a strong impression with his love of performing when he joined the cast of "Peter Pan" nearly three years ago. That's why he's receiving an award in honor of Hernandez's father, Kingston Bowen, which was created last year and given to Bowen before his death.

"If we're going to look at what my father brought to life, he hit life harder than anyone I've ever known," Hernandez said. "It's (the award) about never giving up and always making the best of life. He enjoyed life so much, no matter what obstacles and when we talked about that, Aleks came up."

Looking at Aleks, now 14, Hernandez said she could tell he'd been through something medically. He had "chemo hair" and a limp caused when doctors operated on his tumor, she said. He was wearing hearing aids and one foot was turned out. She forgot his physical appearance when he exclaimed his love of the stage.

"He said 'Who doesn't like singing and dancing!' with the most energy, like you would never know anything is wrong with him, and that's his attitude," Hernandez said. "He loves life. He's passionate. He smiles from ear to ear. He laughs. He's joyous."

Yet Aleks also has to take life one day at a time, says his mother, Nada Lazic. Aleks, who is one of triplets with sisters Mina and Lela, is undergoing chemotherapy every two weeks at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.

Despite his cancer being in remission when he performed with Kidz Kabaret, Aleks is fighting the disease again. The tumor, which first struck in 2009, returned in summer 2014, his mother said.

Chemo side effects, both physical and mental, sometimes keep Aleks from classes and choir rehearsals at Crone Middle School in Indian Prairie Unit District 204. But they've never stopped his singing.

"That's all he likes to do is sing. It's something that he really enjoys," his mother said. "He'll sing anywhere, anytime. He just sings - in the bathroom, in the shower, in his room. He just loves it."

He even sung the national anthem in May when Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico and city council members were inaugurated. Performing with Kidz Kabaret allowed Aleks to add dancing and acting to his repertoire. He appeared in productions of "Grease" and "Into the Woods" after "Peter Pan" and he loved interacting with the other actors.

"Kandi was able to accept him and allow him to enjoy himself with all these other kids that don't have a disability whatsoever," Lazic said. "That's something that he really enjoyed."

During the Sing for King concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at Center Stage Theater, 1665 Quincy Ave, suite 131 in Naperville, Aleks will get to perform with nearly all of his fellow members of the Crone Middle School choir, Hernandez said. She expects a packed house of 180 people, who will be treated to free pizza afterward donated by Rosati's and Braconi's.

Tickets for $10 for adults and $8 for students or seniors will be available at the door if they don't sell out in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2466716.

Hernandez said Aleks' personality will be the true highlight of the show.

"Aleks is selfless. He doesn't look at himself or his issues. He makes sure mom is taken care of. He smiles at everybody else," she said. "He has a spirit about him that he looks outside himself where at a time the bravest would look inside themselves. My life is completely changed having known him."

If you go

What: Second annual Sing for King concert

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 Where: Center Stage Theatre, 1665 Quincy Ave., Suite 131, Naperville

Who: Hosted by Kidz Kabaret, honoring Crone Middle School eighth-grader Aleks Lazic

Cost: $10 adults; $8 students or seniors

Info: <a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2466716">http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2466716</a> or (630) 355-9212

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