Willowbrook raises nearly $64,500 for American Cancer Society

On March 17, Willowbrook hosted its annual Brook Olympics Assembly, where classes go head to head in competitions to earn points in hopes of being named the champion. The assembly is the culmination of the school's Brook Olympics, a weeklong series of events and challenges created to enhance tradition and class spirit and pride at Willowbrook. Top row, left: The Willowbrook Drum Line gets the assembly started. Top row, right: Freshmen (on the left) and seniors battle in the tug-of-war competition, and the freshmen won the challenge. Bottom row, left: Students race on inflatable pony bouncers. Bottom row, right: The Willowbrook Winter Guard performs.

Top row, left and right, and bottom row, left: Willowbrook students and staff members participate in the lip sync competition. Bottom row, right: Willowbrook Principal Dan Krause pumps up the crowd.

On March 18, 500 District 88 students, staff and community members filled the field house at Willowbrook to raise money for the American Cancer Society during the Relay For Life of District 88 All Youth. Left: Cancer survivors and their caregivers walk the first laps in the relay. Right: (From left) Willowbrook sophomores Charlotte Dewyer, Isabella Pennebaker, Katelyn McCann and Kaitlyn Karcz participate in the event. Photos by Chris Fox with the Lombardian/Villa Park Review

District 88 students, staff and community members participate in the Relay For Life of District 88 All Youth on March 18. HR Imaging photos

Willowbrook and Addison Trail recently showed giving back is a cornerstone of District 88 pride.

On March 18, 500 District 88 students, staff and community members filled the field house at Willowbrook to raise money for the American Cancer Society during the Relay For Life of District 88 All Youth. Participants enjoyed dancing, yoga, Zumba, karaoke, games, a moon jump and more. There also was a luminaria to remember those who have lost their battle with cancer. The event raised $63,000 for the American Cancer Society (that total also includes donations raised through Facial Hair February – see below for more details). The team that raised the most money was INVINC18LE, with $9,700.

Willowbrook also has hosted events throughout the school year to raise money for the American Cancer Society, including “Go Pink” events for breast cancer awareness, Facial Hair February and the Brook Olympics.

In October, Willowbrook hosted a variety of events to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Through those efforts, Willowbrook raised about $500.

This year, 17 male faculty and staff members participated in Facial Hair February, where they gave up shaving for the month of February. A bracket was used for students to determine the winner of Facial Hair February, and this year’s winner is Social Studies Department Chair Pete Montgomery. Facial Hair February participant Neil Wahlgren (math teacher) collected $1,200 in donations, which went toward the Relay For Life total.

Brook Olympics is a weeklong series of events and challenges created to enhance tradition and class spirit and pride at Willowbrook. That event culminates with an assembly, which took place on March 17 this year. During the assembly, classes go head to head in competitions to earn points, with the hope of their class being named the champion. The seniors were named as this year’s winning class. The juniors finished in 2nd place, the freshmen finished in 3rd place and the sophomores finished in 4th place. The Brook Olympics raised about $900.