Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
When Caleb King, a senior at Westfield High School, started his last high school football season, he also set out to raise money for childhood cancer research.
It was a lofty goal, but he more than met it.
King, a kicker for the Westfield Shamrocks, raised money for childhood cancer research by asking for pledges for every point he scored during the football season. He says he had an initial goal to raise $2,000.
“I raised $15,358 and scored 76 points,” King says. “People could pledge money per point. On top of that, it was one-time donations. The story ran on multiple TV stations.”
King says that for every point he scored last season, he made a vow to donate money to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). King’s efforts were called “Kick It,” and he was able to successfully get the Westfield community to rally behind him and make donations.
King notes that ALSF is an organization that changes the lives of children with cancer by finding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and employing people to help cure childhood cancer.
King says there are many positive ways to get involved with ALSF.
“Other people can get involved by starting their own fundraiser, or getting online and donating through Alex’s Lemonade Stand,” King says.
King enjoyed the last football season, and says he also likes being involved in Westfield High School’s Student Impact program. The program provides a safe place to hang out with friends and make new ones after school.
King has high goals for the future.
“Hopefully I will play football in college,” he says. “I should have that figured out in the next couple of months.”
King is still touched by how much the Westfield community supported him.
“I hope that more has come from this than just the money raised,” he says. “I hope my younger teammates learn to lead by example. The fundraiser wasn’t a hard thing to do in a city like Westfield. I told Westfield High School Head Football Coach Jake Gilbert my vision and that God put this cause on my heart, and he embraced it.”
King is very grateful for the support he received.
“I appreciate Westfield City Councilman Scott Frei and Coach Gilbert for letting me speak at the Westfield City Council meeting about what I was doing to raise money for childhood cancer research,” King says. “It really is what boosted the effort. The meeting, as well as the TV news stories, helped me reach over $15,000. I’m grateful for anyone who donated and shared the page we had on alexslemonade.org. All the glory goes to God for getting this community to come together. We have a common goal to help end childhood cancer. None of this is about me. It’s about the children that defeat this disease being able to go ride a bike again and just be kids.”
Student Spotlight is sponsored by Wittler Orthodontics.
