Community Corner
Residents, Businesses Cover Park Ridge in Purple Ribbons to Remember Kate Babich (VIDEO)
The citywide display to honor the 7-year-old girl who died suddenly last week runs through July 15.
Park Ridge, IL—Residents and businesses are showing their support for the family of the 7-year-old who took ill at a cheerleading camp before dying suddenly last week by displaying purple ribbons around the city.
The effort, started by a group called Ribbons for Kate, is in honor of Katherine "Kate" Babich, the Park Ridge girl who became sick during Cheer Camp at Maine South High School on June 27. She was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead hours later.
Authorities haven't determined Kate's cause of death, but they believe it wasn't suspicious. More time will be needed to determine an official cause of death.
Find out what's happening in Park Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
RELATED: Park Ridge 2nd-Grader Dies After Becoming Sick at Cheerleading Camp
Ribbons for Kate was started by friends of the Babich family, and the ribbon displays will run through July 15, CBS Chicago reports. Purple was chosen because it was the favorite color of Kate, who had just finished first grade at Field School, the report added.
Find out what's happening in Park Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Many people, businesses and institutions have been offering their condolences and sympathy by posting photos of their ribbons online.
YouTube user Mackenzie Elizabeth posted a video Sunday of some of those displays along with the song "In the Arms of an Angel" by Sarah McLachlan.
"The town of Park Ridge came together to express our love and remembrance for Kate Babich," she wrote in the description of the video. " Here is some of the purple seen around."
PHOTO: Purple ribbons spell out "Kate" as part of an effort to honor Kate Babich, the 7-year-old Park Ridge girl who died unexpectedly last week. (Mackenzie Elizabeth | YouTube screen shot)
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