Marist Community Rallies for Athletic Director's Daughter

Members of the Marist High School community are stepping up for one of their own. 

Friends and family will gather Sunday in support of Marist freshman Mackenzie Lim, daughter of Marist Athletic Director Bob Lim. The oldest daughter of Bob and his wife Chris, "Mack" was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia April 23, 2013.

Family and friends will gather from 2 to 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at 115 Bourbon Street. Tickets are $25 for adults in advance and $30 at the door; under age 20 costs $10.  Funds raised will help the family cover high costs of Mack's treatments, which will last into her senior year of high school. 

Mackenzie—an avid basketball and volleyball player and graduate of St. Damian in Oak Forest—was playing volleyball last year when she began feeling lightheaded, accompanied by a fever that lasted 10 days. Several false diagnoses preceded the news that Mack's blood was under attack.

Chemotherapy followed shortly after, and though her blood is currently clean of leukemia, the threat of its return looms over the Lim family. Mackenzie is the oldest of four girls, including 12-year-old Addison, 10-year-old Ella and 7-year-old Delaney, all students at St. Damian. The Lim family is overwhelmed by the support for their straight-A honors student and Red Hawk Scholar—meaning she tested in the top 90th percentile of prospective students.

"I'm not used to asking people for anything," Lim said. "It's humbling."

The event includes raffles, baskets, and entertainment. Raffle prizes include tickets to Blackhawks, White Sox, and Bulls games, a Jonathan Toews signed jersey, and a hockey stick signed by the entire Blackhawks team. 

115 Bourbon Street is located at 3359 W 115th Street in Merrionette Park, Ill.

Tickets are available from Sue Blisk at 708-404-8324. Blisk and family friend Sandy Esparza helped organize the event.