St. Charles Kick-A-Thon returns Friday
About 200 St. Charles high schoolers and community leaders will kick up their heels -- literally -- to raise money for cancer research Friday, when the 14th Annual Kick-A-Thon returns.
The increasingly popular charity event gets started at 6:30 p.m. at St. Charles East High School, 1020 Dunham Road, where participants will each do 100 leg kicks in honor of those affected by cancer.
Over the years, the fundraiser has netted more than $200,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society, Living Well Cancer Research Resource Center in Geneva and other advocacy groups.
Publicity coordinator Dawn Brueske said organizers again expect a strong showing of community support this year. The fundraiser, put on by drill teams at East and North high schools, has grown significantly since it began in 1994 with about $2,500 in donations.
"It just really seems to inspire people to give," Brueske said. "It's phenomenal."
The event will precede the Cross Town Classic football game between the two high schools' varsity teams.
Kickers, including about 80 drill team members, District 303 Superintendent Don Schlomann and St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte, will form two kick lines in front of the football crowd. New this year, St. Charles elementary schools will each have representatives in the kick lines.
Cancer survivor and Chicago radio personality Lisa Dent, a Batavia resident who works for country music station WUSN 99.5, will act as a guest announcer, counting up the 100 kicks.
Each participant typically collects $100 or more in donations in honor or memory of someone who has battled cancer. Each of the last two fundraisers netted more than $50,000, organizers said.
Brueske said it's fun to watch community members try to keep up with the drill teams, as well as see the athletes work side by side.
"They're pretty fierce competitors the rest of the time," she said. "But this really brings them all together."
Donations will be accepted at the event or on the Web, at www.kick-a-thon.org.
Kick-A-Thon by the numbers
200 - Approximate number of kickers
100 - Number of high kicks each participant will do
$50,000 - Approximately how much money was raised last year for cancer research
$200,000 - Approximate amount the event has raised in 13 years
If you go
What: 14th Annual Kick-A-Thon fundraiser
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, before the Cross Town Classic varsity football game
Where: St. Charles East High School, 1020 Dunham Road
Donate: Money for the American Cancer Society and Living Well Cancer Resource Center in Geneva will be accepted at the event, or online at www.kick-a-thon.org.