Left, Ryland Kautz, kindergarten, photo via CaringBridge. Right, Paisley Gritzuk, 1st grade, photo via Prayers and Positivity for Paisley on Facebook.
Left, Ryland Kautz, kindergarten, photo via CaringBridge. Right, Paisley Gritzuk, 1st grade, photo via Prayers and Positivity for Paisley on Facebook.

KAUKAUNA — The Kaukauna Boys Hoops Club is hosting a special event at Saturday’s home basketball to support two local students as part of the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer Week.

The initiative is a nationwide event that unites coaches across the country to raise funds and awareness about the fight against cancer and promotes the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those fighting cancer.

Saturday’s home game against Kenosha Indian Trail begins at 7:30 pm.

This year, boosters plan to raise awareness and funds for two students at Dr. H. B. Tanner Elementary facing terminal illness.

Ryland Kautz, a kindergartener at Tanner, was diagnosed in late June with inoperable brain cancer known as Altered Diffused Midline Glioma.

Follow Kautz’s journey at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rylandkautz.

Paisley Gritzuk, a first-grader at Tanner Elementary, was diagnosed in 2016 with Neurocutaneous Melanocytosis and has been battling it ever since.

She has undergone multiple surgeries this year alone. Follow her journey through Facebook at Prayers and Positivity for Paisley.

During Halftime of the varsity game, the Kaukauna Boys Hoops Club will conduct a Minute to Win It donation where all money raised during this time will be donated back to the families.

The Kaukauna Boys Hoops Club then will match all donations collected during this time.



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By Dan Plutchak

Dan Plutchak, born and raised in Kaukauna, is cofounder of Kaukauna Community News.