Feb. 28, Leo J. Martin Ski Track, Weston: Twenty-two cross-country skiers and their coaches from the combined Acton-Boxborough/Nashoba Valley team and Brookline High School team gathered on a balmier-than-usual night to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Foundation. The event was organized by Brookline’s coach, Simon Rakov. His daughter, Maddy, is a Make-a-Wish recipient who contracted lymphoma as a high school freshman and endured six months of chemotherapy. She is now a junior, and a Wish Ambassador.
Fascinated with space travel, Maddy’s wish was to see the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles. The foundation sent her and her family on an all-inclusive tour of the facility, which included a ride on the Mars Landing Rover, and a meet and greet with the scientists. And, as a fan of the Gilmore Girls TV show, she was thrilled to get a tour of the set while in L.A. The week in California, said Maddy, was a life-changing event and inspired her to become a Wish Ambassador. But, she said, due to the COVID pandemic, there are currently six hundred patients on the waiting list for wishes.
The AB/Nashoba student skiers were: Seniors Liam Garrett and Lucy Romeo (injured, but cheering from the sidelines); Juniors Alicia Tang, Toma White, and David Krieger; Sophomore Sean Hardt, and freshman Kyle Li. The Brookline skiers were: Jonas Donaldson zu Ermgassen, Kaya Gomoll, Henry Idhaw, Anna Katsman, Max Krutous, Juliana Leary, Milo Roberts Ratnathican, Adelaide Stone, Alexa Lieberman-Wingerter, Yuta Yamada, and Madison Yu.
AB/Nashoba coach Sarah Shamel said $1228.00 has been raised so far, but expects that total to increase, due to students who raised funds but could not attend the event. It will be split 50/50 between the foundation and the ski teams. In one and three-quarter hours, she said, skiers logged record distances, up to thirty kilometers, and some had to be coaxed to quit and join the pizza party and raffle.
Coach Rakov, who is also a cancer survivor, thanks Brookline Hearing, the event sponsor, which provided the funds to create the course and keep the lights on after hours; and Bikeway Source, which funded the raffle items. And, of course, the parents who brought pizza and chocolate chip cookies.
James Conboy is the Acton Exchange sports beat reporter.
