Teens fighting fire with fire

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Students created fliers to help bring support to their cause.

Dreaming for change is useless. Fighting for change is what truly makes a difference.

Nine Homestead High School students have banded together to fight not just for a common passion, but for a person whose life has been endangered by matters beyond her control.

Zack Zens and Inga Salsbury, freshmen, Sara Kalkhoff, Elle Liniewski, Julius Wilkerson and Bailey Kramer, juniors and Cassidy Buffoni, Chris Eckhardt and Emma Contardi, seniors, have begun a fund in the name of local firefighter Kristin Ciganek-Schroeder as she battles stage four colon cancer.

“Kristin has been a firefighter for 13 years, and we immediately knew she was the first person we wanted to help,” Liniewski said. “It’s become a major obstacle as she’s no longer able to serve the Milwaukee Fire Department full-time.  Even so, she’s devoted as much time as she can to her family, friends, and passions.”

“It has been a great experience raising money for such an amazing person who has done so much for others,” Kramer said.

Her disease has made it more difficult for her to provide support to her three children and her husband Bryon, as well as herself. It is because of this dramatic change in this family’s life that these teenagers have started raising money in her name.

“We need your support so that Kristin can spend valuable time with her family and friends and eventually be cancer free,” Liniewski added.

No matter their incredible drive and determination, nine teenagers cannot do this alone. They have created a GoFundMe account in which students and local residents can donate to help better the life of this woman in need. As an incentive to donate, these teens are hosting a raffle for Green Bay Packer tickets in order to raise money.

“Our team is making an impactful effect on someone who has given her life’s work to protect us and our community,” Kramer said.