In Memory of Macy: Students Join Fight Against Childhood Cancer

It wasn’t just their good looks that were turning heads on Friday.

Girls from ’s St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraising team donned bald caps in solidarity with children’s cancer patients and to spread the word about their cause. The school’s has set a goal of raising $10,000 for the children’s cancer foundation.

The girls also wore the caps in memory of their pint-sized inspiration, Macy Ganz of Lemont. Some of the students had the chance to meet Macy last year before the tot, dubbed “my little rockstar” by her mom, died in August after battling cancer for nearly two years.

“Our goal for today is to remember Macy,” said senior Catie Crnkovich, 18. “That’s why we have these shirts,” she added, referring to the matching T-shirts the students wore in honor of Macy.

The shirts, designed by RHS sophomore Amberly Matusiewicz, read, “Make Macy’s Smile Live on Forever,” complete with a picture of the team’s inspiration.

Det. Kelley Hansen, a school resource officer at RHS, said about 50 people have signed up to shave their heads as part of team “We Baldin.” More than 60 additional members are on board to help raise money to fight children’s cancer.

On Friday, students helped further that effort by raising awareness.

“The bald caps are to grab everyone’s attention about the seriousness of this fundraiser,” Crnkovich said. “This is to try to raise as much money as we can.”

So how did classmates reaction to the teens’ attention-getting look on Friday?

“Stares,” said senior Lon’Rae Buckley, laughing. Some classmates initially thought the girls were wearing swimming caps, other team members said.

Henson said she spoke with Macy’s dad, Chris Ganz, on Friday to tell him how the tot had inspired the students.

“He was just completely honored and moved that Macy’s touching people that she never met,” she said.

The fundraiser will culminate in a March 18 all-school assembly, with students and staff cheering on “shavees” as they get their heads shaved in exchange for donations.

The event will start at 1 p.m. and feature a live DJ and performances by the RHS drum line, pom squad and cheerleaders.

 Public invited to watch teens “Peg a cop”

“We Baldin” will host its second “Peg a Cop” dodgeball tournament at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at RHS.

The double-elimination tournament will pit student teams against police officers from Romeoville and Bolingbrook, Henson said, adding that cops from Plainfield, Shorewood and Joliet are also thinking of getting on board.

“I invited members of (local) fire departments, too,” Henson said, noting Macy’s dad is a Lemont firefighter.

Spectators can pay $1 at the door to watch kids and cops face off. Students are also tentatively planning a bake sale, Henson said.

Guests can participate in raffles for the chance to win prizes donated by of Romeoville, of Shorewood, in Romeoville, Rudy Luevano Tax and Accounting and Texas Roadhouse in Joliet.

“The kids have just kind of made the event their own,” Hansen said.

While the team’s goal is set at $10,000, members are hoping to go higher.

“Last year, we averaged $160 (per team member),” Henson said. At the rate they’re going this year, “We’re blowing that away,” she said.

To make a donation to “We Baldin,” visit the team’s page on the St. Baldrick’s website.