St. Charles lacrosse raising money for good cause

This Friday, members of the St. Charles boys high school lacrosse club will team up with the Bear family, owner/operators of nine area McDonald's restaurants, to raise money for the newest Ronald McDonald House in the Chicagoland area.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McDonald's South Elgin at 453 Redington Road (just south of McDonald and Randall roads), players from the club's frosh-soph team will act as volunteer servers and order runners as part of that store's "Cruise Night" festivities. A DJ will provide music, and there will be 50-50 raffles, "mystery" balloons, lacrosse skills contests and other games.

The Bear family have designated the evening a McCare Night and will donate a portion of the proceeds on the Club's behalf to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and the newest House, which will serve the Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn.

Ronald Houses are a home away from home for families whose seriously ill children are receiving hospital care. This new one is the fourth such House in the Chicagoland area.

The frosh-soph team, who recently wrapped up a very successful 14-3 regular season, is taking the lead in this Club project, which is the latest such community outreach event for the Club this year.

In April, head coach Andy Thompson and members of the varsity team, in partnership with the Sportsplex of St. Charles, ran a youth clinic for area fourth- to eighth-grade lacrosse players.

All season long, members of the varsity and junior varsity teams have donated used (and new) equipment to the Club's Stick Up For St. Charles equipment drive. That equipment will be made available to area youth players in need.