Fremd thinks pink for mom
Pink is everywhere at Fremd High School this week.
Posters in the hallways ask, "How are you wearing your pink on Friday?"
In Courtney Gatsos' fashion classes, students are churning out hats, armbands, headbands and scarves in pink fleece.
It all will culminate at Friday's home football game against Schaumburg.
On the field and in the stands, everyone will be in pink to raise awareness and money for breast cancer and to honor a local mom who died from it last week.
In what's being dubbed a "Pink Out," everyone attending the game is being asked to wear pink -- including the visiting Saxons. All the players will wear pink socks, and the plan is to spray-paint a pink ribbon onto the field.
Students at both schools are selling T-shirts this week. It's all been spearheaded by United Clubs of Fremd. The pink fleece items made by fashion students will go on sale today during lunch.
"Everyone is so into it," senior Ashley Zei said. "It just makes you feel good."
Students at the Palatine school have raised money for charity at every home football game this season. But this one has taken on a personal meaning for the classmates and friends of brothers Nick, Matt, Drew and Adam Mertes.
Their mom, Susan, died Sept. 23 at age 46. Senior Matt, sophomore Drew and freshman Adam all are football players at Fremd; Nick played before graduating in the spring and now attends Harper College.
Dozens of Fremd students attended Mertes' funeral last week.
Jean Johnson, her sister-in-law, is an oncology nurse and went through the three-year cancer journey with her.
"You cry tears of sadness when you lose the person, but I have been moved to tears of joy with all of this support," she said. "This has helped to start the healing in such a positive way. We lost a beautiful woman way too soon in life."
Besides being a big Fremd fan, Mertes also coached football and baseball for the Hoffman Estates Park District, where the family lives.
"It hits a little closer to home for us now," Fremd football coach Mike Donatucci said. "Our kids are pretty sensitive to it and know how devastating this is to the family."
Cancer is familiar to senior Jared Fedota. His uncle died from it and his grandmother has been diagnosed.
"With the passing of one of Fremd's own parents, a chilling realization set in that we cannot just let this problem go without trying to fight it," said Fedota, who helped organize some of the events. "Fremd students have the ability to comfort one another in a time of need."
Fremd's booster club is also putting together a raffle for the game. People can win things like breast cancer bears, cell phones, Bulls tickets and free screenings, all donated. All proceeds will be going to the American Cancer Society. The varsity team plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday.