Lester School Honors Beth Dunlap With Fundraiser, Activities

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Students at Lester School honored the memory of Downers Grove North volleyball player Beth Dunlap with a day filled with fun activities and fundraising efforts. The April 18 event included students giving 18 compliments, doing 18 jumping jacks, and other activities inspired by Dunlap's volleyball jersey number, 18. The kids took part in the activities 18 minutes after each hour of the school day.

Dunlap, 17, died in late February, just days after she was hit by a car while crossing the street outside of Downers Grove North. She attended elementary school at Lester School.

Since her death, Beth's jersey number has sparked the hashtag #18for18 and a community wide effort to activities 18 times in her memory. This inspiration was also behind donations that were collected at the Lester School event, which brought dollars, quarters, and change in in increments of 18.

In total, the elementary school raised $764.18, which will be donated to the memorial Beth Dunlap 18 Fund. The fund, established after Dunlap's death, helps support underprivileged volleyball players.

Dunlap's Downers Grove North volleyball teammates even made a special appearance to face off against the Lester School staff in a volleyball game. In a statement, Lester Principal Carin Novak said, "We are so grateful to the girls from DGN who came to Lester to play in honor of their teammate."

The event at Lester School is just one of the many local efforts to honor Dunlap's memory since her death. Joseph Kucharski, the 51-year-old Naperville man charged with fatally striking Dunlap with his car, is currently being held in the DuPage County Jail.