The highlight of Libertyville’s boys cross-country season has been a fourth-place finish at the Reavis Invitational.
Off the course, though, the highlight of the program has been immeasurable.
This year’s team carried on a 10-year tradition when it raised money selling T-shirts and donated $2,000 to two charities. The project, started by coach Mark Buesing in honor of his father, who died of leukemia in 2004, has raised $20,000 to date for numerous charities.
“It was inspired by my dad, who was a big philanthropist in his own small way,” Buesing said. “But this is also a nice thing to teach the young men on the team to do something that’s bigger than themselves.”
Buesing said he’s inspired by the generosity of people who helped the team raise funds. But he especially appreciated how his team accepted the challenge.
“It’s something that benefits the team in a lot of ways and turns everyone into more charitable people,” senior captain Alex Zoellick said. “You really get to see the importance of what charity can do, especially when you meet the people who come to pick up the money. Instead of just blindly writing a check and sending it off, you see the people and how elated they are when they get it. It really gives it a sense of purpose.”
This year’s recipients were Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Oasis for Orphans, an organization that rescues orphaned and vulnerable children in Kenya. Each of the charities received $1,000.
“I know our coaches stress that being a part of this team is more than just running. It’s about building men of good character,” Zoellick said. “And it shows every year. We raise the money and then put it to a vote, whether we’re going to donate it to a charity or not. And it’s always unanimous.”
And, as Buesing had hoped, it’s being paid forward. Former runner Chris Marr, now at the University of Illinois, set up a similar arrangement where his rowing team raises money for charity.
“I’ve always tried to not make this my team but Libertyville’s team,” Buesing said. “It did start with that little seed, but it’s grown through literally hundreds of kids to raise the $20,000. I am a link in the chain that will keep going through these young men.
“And if they keep doing it, then we’ve really started something.”