Green Oaks student channels uncle's memory into fundraising

Katie Papas has quite a busy life.

The Libertyville High School senior earns good grades, belongs to her school's gymnastics team and works part-time at a local restaurant.

But Papas also has become passionate about devoting time to another task in memory of her uncle raising money to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

The 18-year-old has raised more than $60,000 for the Lustgarten Foundation, a New York organization devoted to advance research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer.

Katie's uncle, Bill Tasiopoulos, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer four years ago. When he was diagnosed, he was given five months to live.

“When I heard about it, I was really shocked and cried because he was supposed to get married. He was engaged,” said Katie, who lives in Green Oaks. “When they said it was pancreatic cancer, I knew it was one of the worst kinds of cancer to have. It was awful to hear.”

Katie's mom, Cindi, said raising money was a way Katie tried to cope with his death because they were so close. Bill Tasiopoulos was 38 when he died.

“She is trying to be helpful and raise enough money so people don't suffer the way he did,” Cindi Papas said.

Katie began working with her older sister, Maria, to make what they call lifesaver necklaces. They sold the necklaces for $5 at various stores, homes and at school fundraisers.

But her biggest fundraiser has been an ice skating show called “Skate for a Cure” that she organizes each year at the Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills.

“We were thinking of ways we could raise a lot of money,” she said. “We came up with a skating show because a lot of people would want to come if there were world (class) skaters.”

For the past three years, Katie has attracted skaters from around the world including Hong Kong, Turkey and Canada. Among the performers is her sister, Maria, who skated professionally for Greece and won four world championships.

Selling tickets for $20 each, the event has raised $12,000 a year. Katie said she already is planning her fourth show for some time next year.

Katie was recognized for her efforts this year when she won the Say Yes to Youth Success award. She was nominated by her mother.

Diana Baldi, co-chair of the Say Yes to Youth Success, said the Lake County After School Coalition presents the award each year to recognize deserving youth and give youth motivation to do more. She said Katie was deserving of this award.

“She is quietly working to raise all this money. She has a passion for this cause,” Baldi said. “What was nice was to be able to thank her publicly for being passionate about something.”

Katie says she is proud of her fundraising efforts, but adds she does not plan to stop, even as she is working on college applications.

“Hopefully in the future there will be a cure and when there is, I'll know we've contributed a lot for it,” she said.

For information about the Lustgarten Foundation, visit www.lustgarten.org.