April 29, 2024
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Softball team makes pitch for Toys for Joy in spirit of Lily Rosploch

$54,000 worth of toys to be donated to children’s hospital

By Kevin Hieronymus
Mya Rospoch, 11, stands by a truckload of toys collected for Lily's Toys for Joy toy drive to be given to the patients at the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria.

Mya Rospoch, 11, stands by a truckload of toys collected for Lily's Toys for Joy toy drive to be given to the patients at the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. (Photo provided by Maria Rosploch)

Lily Rosploch touched many, many lives in her 5 years.

Almost nine years after her death, she continues to touch more.

Lily’s sister, Mya, 11, and her GenuWin Reign travel softball team from Romeoville have teamed up for Lily’s Toys for Joy toy drive in memory of Lily, collecting $54,000 worth of items through donated toys and toys they bought from donations.

They also will buy $10,000 worth of new iPads for the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate in Peoria.

The team purchased $44,000 worth of toys Sunday at the Target in Peru. They received a fire truck escort compliments of the La Salle and Peru fire departments.

“Lily really loved fire trucks,” Maria Rosploch said of her daughter.

Lily Rosploch, who passed away in 2015 at age 5, always loved riding fire trucks.

Lily Rosploch, who died in 2015 at age 5, always loved riding fire trucks. (Photo provided by Maria Rosploch)

Maria Rosploch said the girls were efficient in the their shopping, joking her daughter, Mya, has it down to a science.

The softball team will deliver the toys to the Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria and may be able to pass them out directly to the patients, Maria said.

Lily died Jan. 31, 2015, after two courageous battles with neuroblastoma.

Lily's Toys for Joy toy drive raised $54,000 of toys to be given to the patients at the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria.

Lily's Toys for Joy toy drive raised $54,000 of toys to be given to the patients at the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. (Photo provided by Maria Rosploch)