When a tiny Illinois high school raised more cash to battle cancer than any other statewide, state Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) saw fit to drop by, commend the students and sponsor legislation honoring their efforts.
Zeigler-Royalton High School in Mulkeytown (with a mere 160 students, according to U.S. News & World Report) has raised over $110,000 to combat cancer – more than any other Illinois high school – since Zeigler resident Randall Risley founded Zeigler-Royalton Coaches vs. Cancer in 2009 to raise funds for cancer research and patients.
The group is a local chapter of a unique nationwide program pairing basketball teams with anti-cancer efforts. Severin not only introduced House Resolution 379 in Springfield, but he made a point of visiting the campus to congratulate participating students.
“Zeigler-Royalton community is neither the biggest nor the wealthiest but somehow, year after year, they are one of the top fundraisers in all of Illinois,” Severin said. “The numbers speak for themselves and what Zeigler-Royalton has been able to do is nothing short of amazing.”
HR 379 was subsequently adopted on May 10. The resolution commends the local and national Coaches vs. Cancer groups for raising awareness, spotlighting school efforts and motivating students to “embark on a lifetime of service to their communities.”
“The Zeigler-Royalton chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, is ranked in the top 10 in the country for bringing in donations,” the Carbondale-based Southern Illinoisan said.
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