Buddy’s HELPERS presents Bingham family, New Lenox school district with check

FRANKFORT – On March 24, 1994, a car veered off LaGrange Road while girls soccer teams were warming up for practice at Lincoln-Way East High School.

The driver blacked out behind the wheel due to low blood sugar while heading northbound on LaGrange Road. The car swerved into the southbound lanes, jumped a curb, plowed through a retention pond and went onto the practice soccer field. It drove through a chain-link fence and corn field before stopping when it struck some trees.

In total, three girls were struck – two survived. Michele Bingham, a 14-year-old freshman girls soccer player, died that afternoon.

Since May 1994, more than $125,000 in college scholarships have been awarded in Michele’s name to graduating seniors who apply and represent what Michele stood for – giving back to the community.

Michele was involved locally with different charities and community service events throughout junior high school and her freshman year of high school.

Buddy’s HELPERS presented the family and Lincoln-Way High School District 210 with a $2,500 check to be added to the fund.

This special $2,500 donation is a direct result of Buddy’s HELPERS Challenge Day, which is a part of the “Making A Difference On AND Off The Field” campaign.

Each March, the Challenge Day brings together superintendents, teachers, coaches, principals, athletic directors, parents and alumni from different PepsiCo Showdown schools to raise awareness and money for local charities.