Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Jenny Hacker, second from right, who is battling cancer, visited Thursday to thank benefit organizers, from left, Aubrey Campos, Camryn Kraning and Macy Gondeck.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Community members donated baked goods to expand the benefit being held by students, from right, Macy Gondeck, Camryn Kraning and Aubrey Campos, shown with Kraning’s brother Trevor, left.
Hearing about a family acquaintance who succumbed to cancer made Camryn Kraning feel a little sad. It also made her want to do something.
So the 13-year-old student at Bonduel Middle School got together with friends and organized a bake sale to raise money for others battling the deadly disease.
The benefit, which started Thursday and continues Friday from 1-4 p.m. at the school, has grown into a community event to show support for two area residents waging fights with cancer.
Camryn, an eighth-grader, said she was delighted to see other people donate baked goods to make the benefit bigger — and the impact greater.
“It feels good helping people,” she said. “It brings a warm feeling to my heart.”
Together with classmates Macy Gondeck and Aubrey Campos, Camryn kicked off the bake sale Thursday by selling cookies, cupcakes and other treats during parent-teacher conferences at the middle school, 400 W. Green Bay St.
One of the cancer patients for whom the event is being held, Jenny Hacker, dropped by Thursday and thanked the three students in person.
Hacker, who is old friends with Camryn’s parents, said she was touched by the act of compassion and generosity. As she continues her fight with cancer, Hacker said the bake sale means more to her than just money.
“It means a lot more, because there’s a principle behind it: They’re reaching out,” she said. “Good people do good things.”
Randy Kraning, Camryn’s father, said one of his co-workers recently lost his wife to cancer. After learning about the woman’s death, Camryn surprised her parents by announcing that she wanted to organize a benefit to help people with cancer.
“I don’t know how she came up with the idea,” Kraning said. “It was something she wanted to do on her own.”
Bonduel school officials gave their approval for the bake sale, even though the school does not require students to engage in community service.
Considering that the students are only eighth-graders, Principal Mark Margelofsky called it “really cool” to see them showing such strong instincts for benevolence at such a young age.
“We couldn’t be prouder of the girls,” he said.
Once the three friends decided to organize the event, they looked for help identifying cancer patients who could benefit.
Camryn’s parents, Randy and Lisa, both attended school with Hacker and knew that she had been diagnosed. A second local cancer patient who will also benefit has asked to remain anonymous.
Hacker, 39, said she hopes the event raises awareness about cancer risks and the importance of early detection. Four years ago, she was diagnosed with colon cancer after ignoring warning signs and symptoms for at least two years.
The mother of two is continuing with treatments under a doctor’s care. Much of her personal philosophy involves keeping a positive attitude, which is another reason why the school bake sale has struck a chord with her.
“A good deed,” she said, “goes a long way.”