Community rallies around cancer-stricken student

The athletic and school community is rallying in support of Springfield High School senior Alex Naccarato and his family while he faces a series of medical treatments for cancer.

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2017-01-28 / Front Page Community rallies around cancer-stricken student By TORY JONES toryb@eagletimes.com Alex Naccarato holds his acceptance materials from the University of Vermont where he will be studying Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and Mathematics. — PHOTO BY ERICKA SCHOFF Alex Naccarato holds his acceptance materials from the University of Vermont where he will be studying Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and Mathematics. — PHOTO BY ERICKA SCHOFF SPRINGFIELD — The athletic and school community is rallying in support of Springfield High School senior Alex Naccarato and his family while he faces a series of medical treatments for cancer. “He’s the kind of kid that everybody gravitates toward,” said Rachel Hunter, president of the Springfield Cosmos Booster Club. “He is an excellent student and a kind, responsible young man.” Hunter is organizing a fundraiser among athletic booster club supporters and Springfield area residents to help Naccarato’s family while he is undergoing chemotherapy. All funds raised will assist with medical and travel expenses and help alleviate some of the stress and lost work time the family is facing since medical treatment began. Following a diagnosis about five weeks ago, after he noticed he was losing weight and other symptoms, Naccarato has been fighting Hodgkin's Lymphoma and undergoing treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Hunter said. Naccarato played on the SHS varsity basketball team until he was diagnosed, and still goes to games, according to Hunter. “Up to now, he has still been able to attend each of the games,” she said. His mother, Anne Bladyka, described him on Friday as a cheerful, loving person. “Alex is the kind of person who always keeps going with a smile. He ran into a coffee table when he was 3 years old and split his lip open down into the chin and through to his gums. He stopped crying as soon as I picked him up and held him. He didn't complain once while we waited 6 1/2 hours to be seen at our local ER in California. He didn't even wince when they stitched him up … he was being silly and trying to get the nurses and doc to laugh. That's SO Alex!” she said in a written message. Naccarato said in December that he has plans to attend college. He wants to study Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and mathematics at the University of Vermont. He is also one of four siblings, two older and one younger. The Booster Club is joining efforts with many local supporters in a fundraiser intended to help the student and his family while they face medical treatments and travel to the hospital, and also for his older sister to travel from Barre regularly to take care of his 5-year-old younger sibling while he and his mother are at the hospital, according to Hunter. Naccarato’s great-uncle, Andy Bladyka, said on Friday, Jan. 27 that Naccarato is a “straight-A,” energetic student, and that the family was a bit shocked when the diagnosis came to light in the middle of his senior year. “He’s a very intelligent, very likeable kid,” said Bladyka, adding that he is not surprised the community wants to help and is rallying around the high school senior. “Alex is such a good kid, such a solid young man,” he said. “He treats freshmen and seniors like they are equals.” Naccarato underwent his second chemo treatment earlier this week, according to his great-uncle. “I’m amazed at how well Alex is handling the whole thing … his maturity, optimism and energy level,” said Bladyka, who had talked to his great-nephew on Monday, Jan. 23. A SHS home game against Bellows Falls is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17 at Riverside Middle School, and will be “dedicated to Alex,” with the Booster Club collecting donations for him and selling awareness T-shirts, ribbons and much more, Hunter said. The JV game will start at 5:30 p.m., and the varsity game starts at 7 p.m. Hunter said the Bellows Falls Junior Varsity coach, Nate Haskall, has also spoken up in support of the fundraising efforts. "Rivals schools is great for competition, but when real life comes into plays let's be a team!" the coach said. All sales for the night and from concessions will be fully donated to Naccarato and his family, Hunter said. A bake sale in the cafeteria will also benefit the family. The booster club is also asking everyone to come wearing lavender, the ribbon color for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, to help show support for the family. The concession stand operations are shared between the Booster Club and the SHS Junior Class. The junior class has also volunteered to donate all profits from sales that night to Naccarato’s family, Hunter said. Anyone who is unable to make the game and would like to send a donation, may send it to the Springfield Booster Club at P.O. Box 666, Springfield, VT 05156. “Checks can either be made out to the Booster Club with a note for Alex and his family or directly to Alex Naccarato, and we will make sure everything gets to them,” Hunter said. T-shirts, at $20 and printed with “ Springfield Cosmos” and “Hoops for Cure” are also available as part of the fundraiser. For more information or to order a T-shirt, pin, or “ALEX STRONG” bracelets, Hunter can be reached at (802) 886-1070. Cutline: SHS senior athlete Alex Naccarato takes to the court in this December 2016 photo. The Springfield Booster Club is organizing a fundraiser in February to help his family while he undergoes treatment for cancer.