Plainfield Student Raising Money in Memory of Brother Who Died of Cancer

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202

Photo: Central Elementary School 5th grader Maddy Veghts, showing her late brother Nicholas with her mom, Joanna, hopes to raise at least $500 through her Koins for Kids fundraiser in honor of her brother who passed away in 2012 at the age of 8. The Veghts family started the nonprofit Team Nicholas in memory of Nicholas who also attended Central Elementary School. Money raised will help buy Legos and other toys for children who are getting treated at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

PLAINFIELD, IL — Maddy Veghts wants Central Elementary School to remember the giving spirit of her late brother Nicholas.

Nicholas Veghts was 8 and a student at Central Elementary School when he died of cancer in 2012.

To honor his memory, the Veghts’ family created the nonprofit Team Nicholas to help families with a child battling critical illness at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Nicholas was treated at Comer.

Through Team Nicholas, the family supports the hospital year round by donating money and bringing meals to the Ronald McDonald House where families of critically ill children stay.

“He was very nice and sweet,” Maddy said of her brother. “He always thought of everybody before himself.”

Maddy, a fifth grader at Central Elementary, wants to take that Team Nicholas giving spirit to Central and other area elementary schools next month.

Maddy is asking people to donate pocket change for her Koins for Kids fundraiser from March 7-14, 2016.

She hopes to raise at least $500 to buy Legos and other toys for children getting treated at Comer Children’s Hospital.

Donation boxes will be located in different District 202 schools.

Maddy’s mom Joanna Veghts is very impressed with her daughter and her fundraiser.

“She just wants her brother to be remembered now that this is her last year at Central,” Joanna Veghts said.

For more information on Koins for Kids and how to donate, visit teamnicholas.org or email Maddy at teamnicholas2012@gmail.com or Central Elementary School Principal Linda DiLeo at ldileo@psd202.org.