Supporters Gather to Raise Money For Team Kendal Kidz

Hartland teen never had the opportunity to meet Kendal Lividini — a 17-year-old Hartland High School junior — but her story has given him strength during his own cancer fight.

“He’s worn Kendal’s bracelet ever since he was diagnosed and got it from (Kendal's parents) John and Heather,” said Michael’s mother Kathleen Anderson. “Kendal is a huge inspiration to all of us.”

Michael, 15, and his family were among the many who honored Kendal’s memory Saturday by attending an all-day fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings in Genoa Township to help raise money for the charity named for her, Team Kendal Kidz.

Kendal's family formed the foundation after the community, especially her classmates, rallied around her during her nine-month battle against the disease, holding numerous fundraisers and prayer vigils. She and her family also shared their pursuit for a cure online and how she had already overcame cancer at age 6.

“(The charity) carries on her memory," Michael said. "And you know that people do remember people that do great stuff."

The foundation supports Special Days Camps and the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and hopes to raise $20,000 by early August. The camp, which is for children with cancer and their siblings has been around for more than 30 years, was an organization that Kendal was particularly fond of and hoped to volunteer for one day.

Jim Carey, the camp's executive director, said that it takes $1,000 per kid, per week.

“It’s really just an honor to have a group of people that want to help other people,” said Carey, who attended Saturday's event. "And any help is greatly appreciated and this is just a tremendous, tremendous help so we can continue to help kids with cancer. … I can feel her presence within the family and the love of everybody here."

The fundraising already has collected $3,000 from a drive Buffalo Wild Wings sponsored from customers. In addition, the restaurant planned to donate 25 percent of Saturday's earnings to the charity while the event itself raised money through a raffle and selling Team Kendal Kidz merchandise.

“Heather and John and the family have just been so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support by the community to support Team Kendal Kidz foundation,” said Linda Braun, Kendal’s grandmother. “And it's just very important to all of us that her dream continue, so we just want to say a big thank you to everyone.”

The next big event is Aug. 6 when Team Kendal Kidz will be one of five charities included in former that will take place in Highland. A charity concert featuring B-DAB and RadioActive is scheduled for Oct. 14 at the .

“I’m excited to see (the charity) grow,” said Emily Behnke, a friend of Kendal’s. “It was amazing to see when they had the pin-ups here and the whole restaurant was just covered, it was like, wow, this is really getting out there, especially after the concert in October. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on TV one day, that would be awesome to know we were part of it, too.”

Kathleen Anderson said she came Saturday especially wanted to support Kendal’s parents, whom she met during a benefit for Michael in February shortly after he was diagnosed. Michael, who is still undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer called habdomyosarcoma, is currently cancer-free. He has hopes of returning to in the fall.

“It was really fresh for us cause Michael had just gotten diagnosed and their tragedy was really fresh cause they had just lost Kendal,” she said. “And I just couldn’t believe how open they were, how their hearts were so open, how unselfish they were about their story. … They have so much faith.”

For more information on future events or to donate to Team Kendal Kidz, visit the foundation's website at www.teamkendalkidz.org.