St. Charles Kick-A-Thon Tally at $80,000 and Rising

It may have been a stiff rivalry on the gridiron at Friday night’s Cross Town Class between St. Charles East and Charles North, but just outside the stadium it was friendly chatter, laughter and the playful squeals of children during the “tailgate party” leading into the 19th annual Kick-A-Thon against cancer.

The fundraiser is a cooperative effort between the two high schools’ drill teams and their supporters. This year’s goal is to raise at least $85,000, and as of Friday night, the tally was at $80,000 and ticking upward; more money will continue to trickle in for the Kick-A-Thon in the months ahead.

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The monies raised help fund cancer research and cancer support resources.

The enthusiasm for the effort was contagious. St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 officials have called it a “unique and unifying event,” and that unity was apparent even as the two schools’ teams met as rivals on the field at North Stadium.

Not even the threat of rain nor the blustery breeze at the outset could dampen spirits, although a few people carried umbrellas, just in case. The clouds tried to spit some rain early in the evening, but the heavier cloud cover moved on, although the breeze and falling temperatures seemed to whet a few appetites.

When the junior varsity finished its game, the drill teams and their supporters gathered on the track surface surrounding the football field to do their annual kicks against cancer. The excitement and joy was evident on many faces in the crowds — both those doing the kicking and those in the bleachers.

By evening’s end, while North had fallen to East on the gridiron, the 23-13 score paled in comparison to the heart the community poured into the fight against cancer.

For more information about the annual event, please go to www.kick-a-thon.org. 

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