The Evergreen Park girls swim team opened its season with a mission that carried deeper meaning than any race: supporting families in the community affected by cancer.
Led by head boys and girls swim and dive coach Sarah Marshall and assistant coach Katie O’Connor, the Mustangs turned their annual home invitational into a powerful show of generosity, raising $650 for the Christmas Without Cancer Foundation. Evergreen Park Community High School is located at 9901 S. Kedzie Ave.
This year’s team included three freshmen, two sophomores, nine juniors and two seniors. Their work began on September 20 when they volunteered at the Christmas Without Cancer 5K, an annual tradition that Coach Marshall has encouraged for years to instill community service into the program.
For both coaches, the cause is deeply personal.
Marshall first connected with Christmas Without Cancer after her father died from lung cancer. Her family continued to support the organization when her sister later battled breast cancer, witnessing firsthand how far its support can reach. O’Connor was introduced to the nonprofit in 2015 when it supported a close friend during treatment. By the time she joined the EPCHS swim program, the volunteer day was already a meaningful team tradition.
Many on the team have seen cancer affect people they care about, including a student currently at the high school. The coaches said that reality made the decision to support Christmas Without Cancer especially meaningful.
In the days leading up to the September 27 Girls Swim Invitational, Marshall and O’Connor emailed participating schools with details about a special fundraiser planned for the meet. They sold custom gray T-shirts featuring the message Swimming for a Cure on the front and the Christmas Without Cancer logo and participating schools on the back. The shirts cost 20 dollars each, and all proceeds were donated to the organization. Teams from Argo, Bremen, DeLaSalle, Evergreen Park, Kennedy, Oak Lawn, Reavis, Richards and U of C Lab School took part. A 50/50 raffle during the meet added to the total.
Students said the experience strengthened their connection to one another and to the broader Evergreen Park community.
“Christmas Without Cancer helps so many people. As a team we understand the importance of connection, so getting to encourage others to connect is really exciting for us. Supporting our community is a very important part of our school community. Being a part of something bigger than us helps us stay focused in and out of the water,” said Ryan Brennan, 16, a member of the girls swim team.
Boys swim team member Billy Gricus, 17, said his family bought shirts to support a cause that matters deeply to him. “By doing so we helped people affected by cancer and helped my high school swim team with the girls fundraiser. I wanted my T-shirt to be something that not only I could enjoy, but that also makes a positive difference for others,” he said.
By early October, the team mailed a $650 donation check to Christmas Without Cancer, helping the organization provide gifts and financial assistance to families navigating cancer during the holiday season.
For the Mustangs, the effort was more than a fundraiser. It reflected the values they bring to the pool every day: teamwork, compassion and a commitment to lifting others.