CINCINNATI — CancerFree KIDS Night for the Fight hit a record high in donations for childhood cancer research this weekend. Thousands of high school students packed Fifth Third Arena for a 12-hour night full of dancing, dodgeball and inspirational speeches.
Kate Garry, a member of a leadership team for Night for the Fight, said staying awake and active all night is easy when you put it in perspective.
“Twelve hours is nothing compared to what they go through,” Garry said.
Garry is referring to people like Matt Krabacher, who was diagnosed with cancer at just 17.
“You got to take it day by day and kind of that one-step-at-a-time mentality,” Krabacher said.
Now cancer-free, Krabacher works as a nurse to give back to those who gave so much to him, and is overwhelmed by the support from the weekend event.
“It may affect me personally, but it affects everyone here,” Krabacher said.
Co-founder Shayna Flannery said Night for the Fight is planned by high school kids, for high school kids.
“Eight years ago, we started this with 400 kids in a gym and it’s just amazing,” Flannery said.
This year, more than 1,500 students participated in fundraising. Combined with sponsor donations, the students helped to raise a grand total $365,000.
For more information on how you can help CancerFree Kids, click here.
