Some real-life super heroes are helping fight a disease that affects millions across the world.
They go by the name Team GEEK, a squad that grew from five individuals who found a common purpose; fighting what their Relay for Life page on American Cancer Society calls, “The Disease That Shall Not Be Named” – cancer.
On Aug. 20, customers can bring in a flier found on Team GEEK’s Facebook page (search “TeamGEEKRFL”) to Blaze Pizza, 5712 W. Touhy Ave., in Niles where a portion of proceeds will benefit Relay For Life. The event starts at 4 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m.
Carole Brown, who is a relay participant and member of Team GEEK, said the group formed after many of the members participated together in Relay for Life event. Brown enlisted a friend who lived in Norridge and said they grew their ranks with many others who share a passion for superheroes, comics and Relay For Life events.
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Since August 2010 Brown says the team has participated in a number of events, relays and activities that has brought in thousands of dollars. Wanting to find a team name that “unified” them, Brown said they decided since “all of us had this geeky, nerdiness about something,” and Team GEEK was born.
“We started bringing in friends that would wear costumes,” she said of Team GEEK. “It cheered people up…even some of the survivors.”
Aside from common interest in cartoon and comic book characters, famous wrestlers and dark villains, Brown says everyone in Team GEEK knows someone affected by cancer. Brown’s father, whose cancer has been in remission for several years, survived both skin and prostate cancer which Brown said were both diagnosed within a week of each other.
“My maternal grandparents passed away from cancer,” Brown added, noting there are others on the team who, like her, participate in honor of their memory and the survivors.
At many events, guests will see Team GEEK members in tights and heavy armor while interacting with children and walking next to other participants.
Character rivalries aside, the group to date, Brown said, has raised around $30,000 and is continuing that momentum with other events this year.
A week after the Blaze Pizza event, guests may see the likes of Batman, the Avengers and others participating in the Relay for Life of Norridge Harwood Heights, taking place Aug. 28-29 at Ridgewood High School.
The relay starts at 6 p.m. and goes until 6 a.m., and will include a number of raffles, recognition of cancer survivors and many other activities. The goal of the event is to raise awareness of what it feels like for a cancer patient who is going through treatment after participants have been up all night, Brown said.
Brown added their work is only a small fraction of what can be done to help find a cure.
“It’s kind of surreal at times when [people] come up to thank us for what we’re doing,” she said. “There’s so much more to raise, so much more to do, and so much more to fight.”
Lindsey Compton is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.