The St. Charles North and St. Charles East drill teams and the local community came together for the 19th annual Kick-a-thon Kick-off event June 22 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

The event signifies the start of the Kick-a-thon, a fundraiser in which both drill teams and community members  raise money for the American Cancer Society and the Living Well Resource Center in an effort to kick cancer.

Speaking at the Kick-off event were St. Charles Mayor Donald Dewitte; Molly Craney, 2012 St. Charles East Kick-a-thon co-chair; Charlie Kyle, principal of St. Charles East; Kari Batka, director of the Kick-a-thon advisory board; and Buck Drach, advisory board member and former St. Charles High School head football coach.

Also speaking were varsity drill team coaches Hanna Byington from St. Charles East and Nancy Franson-Prentiss from St. Charles North, as well as drill team members Jordan Griffin and Allie Isabelli. Guest speakers included Kaylee Riegler, whose sister recently lost her battle with cancer; Brian Ricketts and Ralph Dantino, both cancer survivors; and beneficiaries Chris Hensley, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society; and Nancy Vance, executive director of the Living Well Cancer Resource Center in Geneva.

Following the event, 2012 seniors from the North and East Drill Teams presented a check for $40,101.16 to Hensley.

This year the Kick-a-thon takes place Friday, Sept. 7 at St. Charles North, 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles.

Fifth Third Bank Ballpark is located at the intersection of Kirk Road and Cherry Lane in Geneva.

Article source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/st_charles/chi-jnt392069-stcharles-st.-charles-20120629,0,2969274.story