Credico (USA) LLC is once again proud to support Team Bright Side in 2024! As a court sponsor for the annual Spike Against Cancer volleyball tournament, Credico continues their years of support for the groundbreaking and essential pediatric cancer research funded by this amazing charity.
This volleyball tournament fundraiser is a highly anticipated event for the Credico team every year, bringing together friends, coworkers, families, and teammates for an evening of games, food, drinks, and fun for an incredible cause. While a fantastic DJ provided a great summer soundtrack, the Chicago skyline offered a gorgeous backdrop for some friendly competition. Teams from companies across Chicagoland leaped through the sand to bump, dig, and spike their way to victory. As the awards were presented after sunset, the event proved to be another tremendous success, with over 300 participants enjoying near-perfect weather on the beach while raising over $105,0000 to help fund pediatric cancer research.
What is Team Bright Side?
Team Bright Side is a charity triathlon team focused on training athletes of all levels to race in the Chicago Triathlon. From the beginning of May through the end of August, these athletes work toward becoming the best versions of themselves on race day, whether it’s their first race or their 50th. Team alumni include adults and kids, cancer survivors and their friends, experienced athletes and people who couldn’t have imagined themselves running a single lap around the block. (Until now!) With the amazing Coach Nic at the helm, anything is possible – if you cross that start line, you WILL cross the finish line with Team Bright Side.
Over the past 12 years, Team Bright Side has grown into an ever-expanding and inspiring success story that started with a heartbreaking diagnosis. The team was formed when founder Tracey Scheppach learned that her then-7-year-old son Ryan had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. To become a survivor, Ryan endured three and a half years of chemo, treatments, hospital admissions, surgeries, and too many trips to the ER. But even in the darkest days of the most grueling treatments, Ryan always managed to find the bright side of things. This inspired Tracey to fundraise and train for a triathlon, declaring that “if he can do something hard, I can do something hard.” The name Team Bright Side was chosen for Ryan’s positive outlook, and a dozen years later he is a survivor, a successful university student, and a triathlete joining the team in this year’s race.
Credico’s Commitment to Team Bright Side
“Tracey’s work is exactly the kind of initiative we can all get behind,” said John Zavoyna, Chief Operating Officer of Credico USA. “We’re beyond proud to continue to support Team Bright Side – funding pediatric research that has helped not just her own son, but families around the world. It’s simply an amazing cause founded by an amazing family.”
Credico’s team of triathletes raised nearly $16,000 for pediatric cancer research in 2019, and we haven’t stopped since. It’s a point of pride to raise money for such an important cause! And on August 25, we’ll join the other 100+ members of this year’s team to swim, bike, and run along Chicago’s beautiful lakefront starting bright and early from Queen’s Landing at Monroe Harbor. Our fundraising efforts are ongoing and will contribute thousands of dollars to the team’s overall 2024 goal to raise $300,000 – cancer hasn’t quit, so neither have we.
Today, Team Bright Side is approaching their goal of training over 2,000 athletes to compete in the triathlon while raising more than $2.75 million over 12 incredible years – with many more to come! These funds support amazing pediatric cancer research, including immunotherapy, the first-ever FDA approved treatment that uses a patient’s own cells to attack cancer, and a worldwide Data Commons that combines the world’s genomic and clinical data to find more targeted therapies and save children’s lives.
Lend Your Support to Team Bright Side
Training for a triathlon to raise money for charity may seem like a lot, but we do all this because we want to do better. Because the usual treatment plan for kids like Ryan is also a lot – they endure years of brutal, chemo-based treatments. And those treatments work… 80% of the time. And 2/3 of survivors still experience life-threatening side effects. But with your support, we CAN do better than that!
Our Credico triathletes are still fundraising if you’d like to help them meet their goals – Amber, Beth, and Sonya will be in the Chicago Triathon start corral bright and early this weekend! All donations go to Team Bright Side overall, and they have a Guidestar Silver Seal of Transparency so you know your gift is secure. Or just come cheer on the whole team! The charity waves are some of the first to dive into Lake Michigan on Sunday, and Team Bright Side’s distinctive stripes are easy to spot all over the course. So draw your best encouraging signs, cheer real loud, and join us at the party! We’ll see you on the Bright Side.