BRAIDWOOD – Noah Curl, 13, of Braidwood wants to be a professional baseball player.

Part of the role, Noah feels, is giving back to the kids who look up to you.

So why not start now?

On Nov. 1, Noah is hosting "Take 5 for Bray," a 5K walk/run in memory of a Braidwood boy he never met – Brayden Grayling, who was 6 when he died Aug. 31 from glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

“His story just touched my heart,” Noah said. “It’s just sad to watch a kid of his age pass from cancer or anything like that. Also, one of my stepsisters passed of a similar disease [brain cancer] 8 years ago. She was 21.”

Proceeds will go to a local family battling a similar condition and toward playground equipment for the new Reed-Custer Primary School in Braidwood, which should be open for the 2017-2018 school year, Principal Heather Faletti said.

“I want Brayden’s spirit to always live on in the community,” Noah said. “He was always happy, running around, having fun.”

Brayden, Faletti said, was energetic and playful, but he also loved helping others. Faletti feels the proceeds will benefit two good causes, and added that the district appreciates Noah’s efforts.

But she’s not surprised by them.

“Noah’s a pretty neat kid,” Faletti said.

Noah’s initiative also didn’t surprise Chad Klover, assistant principal at Reed-Custer Middle School, which Noah attends. Klover said Noah actively participates in plays, speech, sports and the school’s anti-bullying program.

In need of help? Noah is there. He volunteers everywhere, Klover said.

“He makes a mark on everything he does,” Klover said. ‘He’s not on the sidelines; he’s a leader. He just has a big heart like that. He’s just a real caring kid.”

Although Noah said he never formally met Brayden, he knew of Brayden through the Braidwood Baseball Association, of which he and his father Jerry Curl of Braidwood are active members.

Brayden was signed up to play baseball, Jerry said, until he became sick. In December 2014, Noah and Jerry attended a fundraiser for Brayden because Noah said he wanted to show his support for another child in the Braidwood community.

After Brayden’s death, Noah reached out to Mandy Baumgartner of Braidwood – coordinator for that 2014 fundraiser and friends of Brayden’s parents – and asked for her assistance and guidance with the 5K.

Baumgartner said she’s helped Noah by making phone calls, obtaining sponsors and donations, attending school board meetings, talking to the Graylings and hanging fliers in places Noah can’t go, such as bars.

Baumgartner said both Noah and his sister Judith, 10, are great kids.

“Thirteen years old is pretty amazing to be giving back to the community,” Baumgartner said. “He’s [Jerry] is raising them well as a single dad.”

Jerry feels part of Noah’s empathy originates from the losses Noah’s experienced in his life. Noah’s paternal grandmother died in 2006; his mother died in 2007; his great-aunt died in 2008; and his maternal grandmother died in 2009, Jerry said.

“Right now, his grandfather – his mother’s father – is pretty bad. His health is diminishing rapidly,” Jerry said. “He’s [Noah] been around this. He knows what inevitable is.”

But Noah also knows what giving is, through the example of his father, who’s always seizing opportunities to volunteer. Jerry said he’s stressed to his children the importance of team-playing and doing for others. His maxim is, “Give until it hurts – and then give a little more.”

“You have one job in life,” Jerry said, “to make someone smile.”

Take 5 for Bray welcomes people of all ages – including kids in strollers – but no pets. Each participant will receive a T-shirt designed by Noah, who also created the fliers, packed ice bags, solicited volunteers and donations, and laid out the course with Jerry.

Other event features, Jerry said, include a DJ and a bounce house. From the response she’s received so far, Baumgartner estimates 1,000 people will attend.

All this activity is not lost on Noah’s sister Judith, who will be there with her friends.

“I think it’s awesome that he’s showing that much appreciation to someone that he barely even knew,” Judith said of Noah.

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Take 5 for Bray

WHEN: Nov. 1. Registration begins at 9 a.m. 5K walk/run starts at noon.

WHERE: Braidwood Recreation Club, 33061 S. Route 53, Braidwood

ETC: 5K walk/run (walkers and strollers welcome, no pets), extra T-shirts for sale at $10 each, bounce house, DJ. Concessions available

COST: $25. Children 3 and under are free

CONTACT: Noah Curl at take5forbray@yahoo.com or Mandy Baumgartner at hairmommy2@yahoo.com