Naperville store carrying on campaign against cancer
Friends of Steph Lesiecki are carrying on the fundraising efforts for breast cancer research the Naperville woman started before the disease took her own life.
Kreger's Central Foods will be giving away free brats and holding raffles and an auction from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the shop, 605 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville. Proceeds will go to the Rush University Medical Center Breast Cancer Research Fund in Lesiecki's memory.
"It was her dream to find an end to cancer and she was just that kind of person that there was no way we weren't going to do this," shop owner Bill Kreger said. "It was our honor to continue it."
Lesiecki, who was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, had a master's degree in marketing and advertising but worked at Kreger's shop for about 10 years to be able to spend more time with her family. She and Kreger also became running partners, competing together in 11 marathons and about 20 half-marathons over the years.
Kreger describes his friend as intelligent and hardworking.
"She really was a special person. ... There was just something about her," he said. "She had a lot of energy, a lot of spirit, a lot of drive. It was contagious."
The shop began raising money for cancer research about six or seven years ago. What started with a simple can on the front counter for donations evolved into a full-fledged fundraising campaign under Lesiecki's leadership. Last year, while in home hospice care, she led fundraising efforts that brought in about $29,000.
That fundraiser turned out to be her last. Lesiecki, a wife and mother of two, died in November 2008 at the age of 48.
Kreger said those who knew Lesiecki were inspired to continue her work.
At Friday's fundraiser, Kreger's Central Foods will be giving away the kind of brats it has been making in its store for 50 years. The shop is family owned and operated and has been in business for 116 years.
It is also holding weekly raffles for prizes like Kreger's meat, restaurant gift certificates and spa treatments and a monthlong silent auction with items such as tickets for a Cubs vs. Cardinals baseball game.
Kreger's also accepts donations to breast cancer research throughout the year.
"We're really looking to try to help raise funds to find a cure for cancer," Kreger said. "It's rampant, it really is. If you don't know somebody affected by cancer in some way or another you're fortunate. We're just carrying on her mission."
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> Breast cancer fundraiser </p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Kreger's Central Foods, 605 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 355-4418</p>