Algonquin students raise funds for friend fighting leukemia

A pair of seventh-graders from St. Margaret Mary Catholic School in Algonquin have shown that they are wise beyond their years.

Rebecca Shydlowski and Angela Wuerger recently organized a fundraiser for their neighbor Sammy Sanchez, a sixth-grader from Algonquin Middle School who is battling leukemia.

This, months after her mother died of inflammatory breast cancer.

Rebecca and Angela took it upon themselves to collect $325 from teachers, faculty and their fellow students at the school.

In return, the Rev. Michael Tierney, pastor of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, matched the funds.

Last Sunday at a communitywide fundraiser for Sammy's, the girls presented her family with the check for $650, money that will go straight to the fund reserved for her medical bills.

All told, friends and concerned parties raised more than $17,000 for Sammy.

If you would like to help the Sanchez family, please send your donations to: Samantha Sanchez Medical Account, Harris Bank of Algonquin; 225 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, IL 60102

Another good cause: Speaking of donations, the Alexander Leigh Center for Autism in Lake in the Hills also is collecting money for its expansion efforts.

And they're making it convenient for you to donate online, all you have to do is go to www.firstgiving.com/alca.

To learn more about the nonprofit center for autism, visit alexanderleighcenterforautism.com.

Blast from the past: While early voting at the Gail Borden Public Library last week I spotted my high school soccer coach, Anthony Passi, who we called Mr. Passi.

It was very strange, considering I went to high school in Chicago and did not expect to see him in Elgin.

I hadn't seen him since 1997, when we lost round two of the Illinois High School Association sectionals to St. Ignatius.

But there he was, standing in line with his family waiting to vote.

Anyway, the line was really long and I tried to get his attention without leaving the line, because I was afraid of losing my space.

We never did speak, and he and his family left before it was their turn to vote - I ended up waiting in line for nearly two hours.

Anyway, he was a tough coach and made us run two miles a day for practice around Marquette Park, rain or shine.

I can remember barely being able to walk after a week of conditioning.

On the days there was ice on the ground, we took it inside and ran up and down flights of stairs inside the high school - that was even worse than being outside.

He always pushed us to do our very best and didn't take any mess.

All of his yelling and pushing paid off because that year, we were the division champions in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference after beating Queen of Peace in a game that went to penalty kicks.

At the time, I didn't understand why he was so tough on us but over time I've thought about those years and how all of that training really paid off and taught that it takes an awful lot of hard work to succeed.

I don't know if you're reading this, Mr. Passi, but if so, thanks for everything.

•Lenore Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove and McHenry County College. She lives in Elgin. To reach her, send an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com or call (847) 608-2725.