Many people remember what it is like to be 13 years old. Spending time with friends after school, being a part of extracurricular activities, learning how to be independent and much more. Having fun while being young is a blessing that some take for granted. For 13-year-old Mylee Castellanos, every second counts.
Prior to the UW-Whitewater versus UW-Stevens Point football game Friday, Oct. 18, UW-Whitewater DECA partnered with Make-A-Wish Wisconsin to host an event called “Grilling 2 Give.” The event lasted from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and acted as a tailgate before the game. Brats, burgers and hotdogs were grilled and sold alongside soda and individual bags of chips. The items were sold in combination form, every grilled item came with chips and a drink. Hotdog combos were $5 and brat or burger combos were $7.
The event aimed to raise funds for Mylee, a 13 year old girl from Beloit diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose wish is to go to Orlando, Florida. DECA’s goal for the event was to raise at least $500.
Despite a large turnout being students and faculty, the event was open for everyone in the community.
“Supporting our local area is incredibly valuable to everyone,” said DECA President Bella Biever. “[It] doesn’t only affect those that primarily live on campus, it affects those that primarily live in the Whitewater area. Being so young and sick is so sad, and we want to do whatever we can to help ease her pain and bring her happiness.”
DECA Vice President of Community Involvement Michael Westbrook organized the event.
“I created this event based on what I did in high school,” said Westbrook. “They started ‘Grilling 2 Give’ about 21 years ago and it was a great event. It was super fun, and I wanted to recreate this experience while in college. It’s also super important to give back to the community and make a difference in people’s lives.”
Local businesses in the Whitewater community donated gift cards or cash to DECA in order for this event to happen. Walmart, DLK Rentals, The Fuzzy Pig and many more were major contributors.
Despite being unable to attend the event, Mylee and her family are aware and grateful for the support. For more information about Mylee or to donate for her cause, contact Michael Westbrook at [email protected]. DECA is accepting donations until the end of the academic school year.
