By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
HOWELL – This year’s fifth annual Madison Beggs Kicks 4 Kids soccer marathon raised almost $19,000 for several organizations and pushed the total amount of money that has been raised to more than $100,000, according to the teenage organizer of the event.
The event was held at Howell’s Soldier Memorial Park on Sept. 10 and the money raised was donated to the Frances Foundation For Kids Fighting Cancer, to pediatric cancer care at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to the Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation, according to Howell High School junior Jayne McDevitt, 16, the president and executive director of Madison Beggs Kicks 4 Kids.
The event honors the memory of Madison Beggs of Howell, who died at the age of 12 in June 2012 following a 22-month battle with brain cancer. Jayne and Madison were close friends in the fourth and fifth grades.
“This year’s Kicks 4 Kids was a huge success,” Jayne said. “The Kicks 4 Kids team and I were very pleased with the outcome and there wasn’t a face without a smile on it.”
Jayne said about 1,000 people attended the event, which saw 30 teams participating in soccer play. Teams ranged from U-9 clubs to squads made up of local coaches.
“It is truly one of the best things every year to see the community come together for a common goal, to fight childhood cancer ‘One Kick at a Time,’ ” Jayne said.
“Our fifth annual event was very exciting because we surpassed $100,000 raised, with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to pediatric cancer research and to better the lives of kids fighting the disease.
“Everyone had a great time playing for the cause, because when you play to fight back against the devastating disease of childhood cancer, everyone is a winner, no matter the score,” she added.
Activities at the Kicks 4 Kids event included carnival games, inflatables, face-painting and more.
“Every year it is truly inspiring to see such a great amount of people in one place having fun, remembering and keeping my friend Madi’s memory alive,” Jayne said.
“I know, and many people throughout the day also said, there was no doubt Madi was with us and smiling down on Kicks 4 Kids. The fifth annual event would not have been possible without the help of so many wonderful volunteers, as well as our generous community and sponsors,” she said.