Algonquin native to be recognized at Mother’s Day Race for a Cure

ALGONQUIN – An Algonquin native will be recognized Sunday for his fundraising efforts at the 20th anniversary of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Chicago.

Tony Braglia, a Jacobs High School graduate and sophomore at Illinois State University, raised more than $3,600 for the race in honor of his mother, Heidi Braglia, who died in 2013 after a battle with breast cancer.

“She was definitely one of the biggest fighters I’ve ever met,” Braglia said.

Braglia, who is the president of his Sigma Nu fraternity, started raising money on his own when he decided to participate in this year’s Race for the Cure.

At the start of March, some of his fraternity brothers decided to help.

The Illinois State University’s Sigma Nu fraternity Twitter account shared Heidi and Tony’s story, and pledged that for every retweet the message received, the organization would donate $1 to the Race for the Cure, Braglia said.

Within days, the tweet was shared more than 3,000 times.

“It brought me to tears at first that [my fraternity brothers] thought of me like that,” Braglia said.

More importantly, Braglia said it spread awareness on his campus about breast cancer.

After the Twitter fundraiser, Braglia said he was contacted by Susan G. Komen Chicago about being honored as a “More Than Pink Hero” at the upcoming race.

The heroes are being recognized for their bravery and compassion, and include those who have lost loved ones to cancer, are fighting the disease themselves, activists, volunteers and caregivers, according to a news release from Susan G. Komen Chicago.

NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” actor Jon Seda, two members of the Chicago Police Department and several survivors also will be recognized with Braglia, according to the release.

Susan G. Komen’s mission is to save lives and end breast cancer by funding research, ensuring quality care for all and empowering people with knowledge, according to the release. Presence Health, the largest Catholic health system in Illinois, is sponsoring the heroes.

This year's 5K fun run/walk kicks off at 9 a.m. at Montrose Harbor, 601 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago. To register for the race or to donate, visit www.KomenChicago.org.

Braglia will be participating in the race for the first time since he went with his mother in 2010, and will be joined by family members including his 17-year-old sister, Mia Braglia, and father, Tony Braglia.