St. Charles Kick-A-Thon aims for $1 million mark

The city of St. Charles takes a great deal of pride in its festivals - highlighted by this past weekend's 30th Scarecrow Fest.

However, there's another annual event in St. Charles that doesn't take a back seat to any of the others.

The 22nd annual Kick-A-Thon, a collaborative fundraising event featuring the high school drill (dance) teams at St. Charles East and St. Charles North, will take place Friday night at St. Charles East.

What began as a small cancer fundraiser 22 years ago has certainly taken on a life of its own with charitable donations exceeding $870,000.

This year's event, which will take place prior to the varsity football game between crosstown foes St. Charles East and St. Charles North (approximately 6:30 p.m.), has a chance to be a little extra special.

"We're pushing to reach the $1 million mark," said event matriarch Kari Batka, a longtime counselor and former drill team coach at St. Charles East. "We'd like to hit it this year."

The beneficiaries from this weekend's Kick-A-Thon are the Fox Valley Chapter of the American Cancer Society, the LivingWell Cancer Center and Fox Valley Food for Health.

While the drill team members look and act the part, the community participants invited to perform 100 kicks lined along the outdoor track provide the real "entertainment."

My hamstrings begin to tighten a bit remembering the years spent "kicking" with my oldest daughters, Devon and Brittany - both former St. Charles East drill team members.

According to Batka, the fundraising event kicked into another gear with the St. Charles High School split in 2000.

"It kind of blew up 10-15 years ago," said Batka. "(St. Charles North coach) Nancy Prentiss brought a real tenacious energy level to it when the two schools combined to join forces.

"She dove in head-first. She's a cancer survivor herself."

Prentiss was happy her school was invited to participate.

"We were so fortunate to be included," said Prentiss. "Kari and I had knowledge of each other since I had coached in Downers Grove.

"The (drill team) parents have been great working together. Early on, some of the North parents were former East parents so they knew about Kick-A-Thon. It's really the parents who make it what it is."

"When East and North merged together, we pushed each other in our fundraising," added Batka.

Anytime rival schools can come together for a common cause, it's a good thing.

"It's a win-win no matter what we raise," said Prentiss. "If you do your best, it's good enough. Every little bit helps."

"One of the biggest things is that it is an extremely collaborative effort," said Batka.

Throughout the years, the Kick-A-Thon has become something synonymous with St. Charles.

"It is a genuine effort to engage the entire community," said Batka. "We have brilliant people on our advisory board - people who are not looking for any credit or praise."

While Batka readily admits she had no idea Kick-A-Thon would grow into what it is today, the common core belief remains the same.

"It serves a greater purpose for the community and for the kids," she said. "I truly believe the kids see participating in it as a privilege."

When the drill team was looking to give back to the community 22 years ago, then-Saints football coach Buck Drach suggested the American Cancer Society. At the time, Buck's wife, Rose Augsburg Drach, a special education teacher at St. Charles High School, was battling a rare form of sinus cancer.

A donation went to the Fox Valley Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Kick-A-Thon has taken on even greater meaning this year.

"Both of my committee chairwomen are cancer survivors," said Prentiss. "It touches everyone."

Last June, Ann Byington passed away at the age of 56 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Four of her daughters - Jane, Hanna, Ellen and Nora - were drill team members at St. Charles East, and Hanna is currently in her fourth year as the Saints' varsity coach.

"As much as it will be extra hard Friday night, it will be extra special, too," said Hanna, who was a fifth-grader when her mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer. "I know how much things like this mattered throughout my mom's process.

"Throughout my mom's journey, doctors would find a new medicine to give her. That wouldn't have been possible without funding.

"It has gotten personal."

Unfortunately, cancer has become a personal battle for far too many people.

"Ann was one of my favorites," said Batka. "She was the voice and face of Kick-A-Thon. Her spirit drives us this year.

"From Rose to Ann and everyone in between, it's why we started this event - and why we continue it."

If you would like to make a donation, go to www.kickathon.org.

Craig Brueske can be reach at csb4k@hotmail.com.