The Naperville Central & North Girls Swimming teams joined forced to go gold and raise money for pediatric cancer, presented by Molly Maids of the Aurora Naperville Area.
The Story
Ryan Collins, a 6th grader in Naperville, had a medulla blastoma removed from the base of his skull over a year ago and has since gone through treatment in order to defeat cancer. Now, Ryan and his family are continuing that fight by raising awareness for pediatric cancer.
First Ryan held a lemonade stand that raised over $4,000 over the summer. Then, Becca Collins, Ryan’s mom, helped organize a go gold swim meet between Naperville North and Naperville Central in hopes of raising awareness and money to Cal’s Angels: a pediatric cancer foundation that grants wishes for kids and donates money to Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Alexa Puccini, a swim captain for Naperville Central, was part of the planning process and knows the Collins family well as she swims with Ryan’s older sisters Lauren & Paige.
Naperville North also joined the cause with organizing a rubber ducky derby where the swimmers sold ducks and raised $700.
Along with the derby, a raffle, and t-shirt sales, the swim meet gave $1,000 back to Cal’s angels.
But Ryan isn’t done.
Ryan will continue to fight for cancer research and for children diagnosed. So be on the look out for more lemonade stands and go gold events that raise money for big impacts of the future.
Check out the highlight from this event in our Girls Sports Highlights!
