Palatine 10-year-old raises $5,200 to fight cancer

Several young swimmers will participate in a swim relay for an exceptional cause, and one participant in particular has made an extraordinary impact.

Bradley Yendro, 10, of Palatine raised approximately $5,200 for the "Hour of Power Relay for Cancer Research," a charity swim relay being held Friday, March 12 at the Playdium, 1766 Glenview Road in Glenview.

Proceeds will benefit the Ted Mullin Sarcoma Research Fund, which is named for a Winnetka swimmer who died of sarcoma in 2006. Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that begins in the muscle, blood vessels or other supporting tissue.

Bradley is dedicating his swim to his mother's friend who was diagnosed with sarcoma last year. His networking and passion to find a cure helped Bradley far surpass the $100 fundraising goal set for each swimmer.

"It's been overwhelming because we originally set out to raise money and participate and honor my friend who went through a very scary time," said his mother, Leslie Yendro.

Bradley's teammates in the Big Blue Swim School also will participate in the relay, as will members of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Sharks swim team and two-time Olympic gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay.

Vanderkaay is an old friend of swim school coach Chris DeJong, and he'll attend the relay and swim along with the children. The young swimmers, including Bradley, are excited to meet a top athlete like Vanderkaay.

"It's a thrill because, you know, a lot of swimmers don't really have access to an Olympic gold medalist," he said.

Through his fundraising efforts, Bradley has received several notes of encouragement along with the donations.

"It's been really, really neat to see not only the money that has come in, but also the support," Leslie Yendro said.

The support has been an added incentive for Bradley. "It's really cool, because it shows me that people care about what I'm doing," he said.

Bradley received a $3,100 donation from the Bears Care charity, and the rest came from family and friends. Leslie Yendro said her son is learning that he has the power to help people.

"He's seeing that one person can do something really big if they put their mind to it," she said.

"It feels really good," Bradley agreed. "I'm really glad to be helping for this kind of cancer, and I really want to help find a cure," Bradley said.

All the funds raised from this event will go to sarcoma research at the University of Chicago.

To donate, write a check payable to University of Chicago and write "Ted Mullin Fund" in the memo area. Mail it to 777 Hinman Ave., Apt. 21, Evanston, IL 60202. You will receive a receipt and acknowledgment letter.

For more information, see bigblueswimschool.com/hour-of-power/index.html