Collinsville High School teacher Jacob Post wanted to do more than just donate money when a fellow teacher was diagnosed with cancer; he wanted to make a difference.

Photo by Roger Starkey

Post organized an effort to sell t-shirts and wristbands with the logo “KAHOKstrong.” All of the proceeds were used to offset the treatment expenses of Sarah Stolcis, who was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in February, 2013. Stolcis had lost her husband, who was also a teacher in the district, to cancer the previous summer.

The effort was very successful, and soon founding members Post, Toni Geisen and Dawn Dimitroff had a vision to make the movement more inclusive, Geisen said. “Part of our goal is to help people in Collinsville Unit 10 in times of tragedy,” Post said.

Championed by Geisen, the group was approved by the Collinsville School Board as a student led organization in the spring and began operations as a formal group this fall.

Before the school year started, the three founding members recruited other teachers from various areas of the high school and Collinsville Area Vocational Center to get involved. The idea was that the teachers would help recruit students that were representative of the entire student body, not just those typically involved in after-school activities.

“The things we want to give back to effect all of the kids,” Geisen said. “We want students that have different relationships with different elementary schools and have different perspectives.” The more people in the district KAHOKstrong is familiar, with, the more they can help.

The effort to diversify the group was obvious to KAHOKstrong President Hanna Liljegren when she arrived at the first meeting of the group this fall. The CHS sophomore said she noticed there were students from many different groups among the 40 or more who arrived at the meeting.

Liljegren joined KAHOKstrong, in part, because her mother, Kelley, who is also a teacher in the district, has battled breast cancer twice. “We have had a lot of support, but I know that not everyone has this kind of support,” Liljegren said.

Photo courtesy of KAHOKstrong

Vice-President Gretchen Arnold and Liljegren are excited by the opportunity to help build the philanthropic group and help it reach as many families in the district as possible. Arnold, a CHS junior, joined KAHOKstrong because she was inspired by how the group, which was little more than people rallying around a concept at the time, brought the CHS community together when Stolcis lost her battle with cancer in May, at age 30.

“I wanted to be part of something like that,” Arnold said. “I wanted to be able to help the community and be part of a giant family.”

The KAHOKstrong family recently helped a family that lost their home to a fire, a student whose mother passed away and is currently raising money to help with the funeral expenses of CHS freshman Katelynn Fancher, who died in a car accident on Nov. 23. The group also has plans to offer two $1,000 scholarships each year, Geisen said. The scholarships will be in the name of Stolcis and Fred Fierce, another CHS teacher who died from cancer.

Although merchandise sales are still the primary source of revenue for the group, which distributes 100 percent of its proceeds to worthy causes, they have started planning two major events for this school year.  The girls basketball team will host a “Pink Out” game on Dec. 21. Raffle tickets, 50/50 tickets and other fundraisers are planned for the game.

A carnival type event is being planned for May. A 5k run will be part of the event.

KAHOKstrong is about more than raising and distributing money. “It is to let people know that we are there for them,” Post said. “Together we are stronger than we are alone.”

The school-based organization is also providing a learning experience for its members. Arnold said her time in KAHOKstrong has helped her realize how many people around her are dealing with difficult things in life that they do not always share with those around them. “It has made me more aware of what I have and has made me want to help others in the community,” Arnold said.

Liljegren’s experience in the club has helped her see past the many negative things she hears about how bad people are to each other. “People are good,” Liljegren said. “There are a lot of good people in the world who want to give, if you give them a chance.”

KAHOKstrong t-shirts can be purchased by completing and returning the attached form or at CHS sporting events.