Inspired QB at All-Boys School Thinks Pink, Pays Tribute to Grandmother He Didn't Know

Few teenagers like to part with a big check, but that’s exactly what Brock Krueger did last week, when the Marmion Academy sophomore presented an oversized check for $6,643 to LivingWell Cancer Resource Center during a ceremony at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva.

The money, originally donated in December 2011, was raised through a month-long campaign initiated by Krueger in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in honor of his grandmother, Cynthia Carroll, who died of breast cancer at the age of 54 before he was born.

Amid countless examples of people across the country who host Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities, Krueger’s story is distinct in two key aspects: He started his campaign at age 14, and he launched it at an all-boys’ high school—not a typical hotbed for breast cancer supporters, even though more than 2,000 of the 200,000 newly diagnosed cases each year are in men.

Inspired by the National Football League’s 2010 “Crucial Catch” campaign which included a series of games during which the teams suited up in pink to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Krueger—then a high school freshman and starting quarterback for the Marmion Cadets’ football team—approached his coach, Dan Thorpe, about doing something similar at Marmion.

Receiving nothing but support from the entire football program, Krueger spearheaded a “Tackle for the Cure” campaign at the all-boys’ school in Aurora.
Throughout the month of October 2010, the Marmion Cadets wore pink wrist bands, pink socks and pink ribbon decals on their helmets during games, including their appearance that year at the IHSA state football championships.

Krueger’s family and friends sold pink “Tackle for the Cure” T-shirts and wristbands during all of Marmion’s home football games and raised additional funds through silent auctions and raffles ofitems that were donated to them for the cause.

Last fall, with the support of an ever-growing committee, along with Marmion’s Cross Country Coach Dan Billish and student groups from both Marmion and its sister school Rosary High, Krueger’s vision expanded under the theme “Marmion Academy Salutes the Pink.” Kicking off the first weekend of October 2011, in conjunction with Marmion’s Homecoming celebration, the campaign once again centered on the sale of pink merchandise, silent auctions and raffles and the support of the Marmion football program, which even went so far as to paint the football field hash mark lines pink for the first time in the school’s history.

The campaign also incorporated several new events including an inaugural 5K “Run for the Pink” along Marmion’s cross country course that attracted more than 130 runners, and a Pink Zumbathon led by instructor Tracey Kozack of Batavia that attracted a gymnasium full of women ready to dance for the Cure.

“Everyone at Marmion has been amazing,” says Krueger’s mom, Crystal. “From the day we first approachedHead Coach Thorpe with Brock’s idea, the entire school has gotten behind him to make the most of thiscampaign.”

Combined, the 2010 and 2011 campaigns have raised more than $11,000 for LivingWell Cancer ResearchCenter, a community-based, non-profit center that opened in 2005 in Geneva, IL. LivingWell is the only comprehensive cancer care resource available in the western suburbs offering more than 55 programs and services that encourage, educate and emotionally support people living with cancer, along with their family members, caretakers and friends.

“We are absolutely amazed by what Brock has been able to accomplish over the past two years,” said Susan Lyons, Director of Development for LivingWell. “His passion and dedication to this cause and to LivingWell are truly inspiring!”

This May, LivingWell will open the doors to a brand new 15,500-square-foot facility at the intersection of West State Street and Williamsburg Avenue in Geneva. The purpose-built facility will be three times the size of the existing center and designed to give a home-like setting where people can feel they have “a softplace to fall.”

“I wish that my mother and family would have had access to a facility like LivingWell,” added Mrs.Krueger. “The emotional impact cancer can have, not only on its victims but on those around them, can be overwhelming. The support and services that LivingWell provides are invaluable, and we are pleased and proud to do everything we can to support the wonderful work that they do for those living with cancer in our community.”

Plans already are underway for the 2012 campaign which will be co-sponsored by Rosary High School andpromises to be bigger and better than ever. This year’s run will be a cross country-style Twilight 5K onSeptember 22nd at Marmion Academy. In addition, there will be a one-mile kids’ race through a corn maze.

“We really want to make this event about families coming together for the Cure,” emphasized Krueger.

Registration for runners is currently open on Active.com. Anyone interested in volunteering or sponsoringthe 5K is encouraged to contact Claudine.fasse@gmail.com.

Also new to this year’s campaign will be a “Think Pink Cookbook.” Being produced by a group of Marmion/Rosary moms, the book will feature recipes donated by students, families and friends and will be availablefor purchase at all of the 2012 fundraising events. Anyone interested in contributing to the cookbook may contact barbebert@comcast.net.

“We are always thinking about ways to improve and expand what we are doing so that we can raise evenmore money,” said Krueger. “Our goal is to double our donation to LivingWell this year and my hope is that this fundraiser becomes a Marmion tradition long after I graduate.”

For information about how to get involved with the 2012 campaign, contact Crystal Krueger atsimpleecmk@aol.com. The committee is actively seeking volunteers, sponsors, donations and silentauction/raffle items. Additional details about the 2012 campaign are available on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MarmionCadetsBreastCancerAwareness.

For more information about LivingWell Cancer Resource Center visit www.livingwellcrc.org or call 630-262-1111.

This article was submitted by Susan Lyons of LivingWell Cancer Resource Center.