Community Corner
Photo Gallery: 'A Gesture of All the Support Hunter Has'
Yorkville High School teachers held a fundraiser Sunday to support the Darnell family, whose 2-year-old is battling a heart defect.
The last lap of The Hunter Hustle probably wasn't a hustle, per se.
For the 400th lap around the track, the runners and crowd walked behind 2-year-old Hunter Darnell and his family as The Black Eyed Peas' I've Gotta Feeling played Sunday afternoon. Two high school teachers, Cheri Lynch and Chris Muth, organized the relay to raise money for teacher and wrestling coach Shane Darnell as his younger son battles a heart defect.
"Everyone walked the last lap with Hunter," Lynch said. "People were crying; people were laughing and dancing. There was a wide array of emotion. It was a gesture of all the support Hunter has going into the next phase of his life."
Find out what's happening in Yorkvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Hunter Darnell was born with a heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), where the left ventricle is severely underdeveloped. Since the left side cannot pump blood effectively, the right side must pump blood – and oxygen - to both the lungs and the rest of the body.
Without medical treatment, the condition is likely fatal. Multiple surgeries, including possibly a heart transplant, offer the best chances for survival.
Find out what's happening in Yorkvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Shane Darnell and his wife, Tracy, were told about the defect when their second child was still in the womb. They learned that their newborn would need at least three major heart surgeries within his first 30 months of life.
Hunter was born on Feb. 20, 2009, to a room full of nurses and doctors. At one week of age, he had the first of four open heart surgeries. He has also undergone six other cardiac procedures.
On Sunday, 65 runners took turns running for 15-minute increments until the group ran 100 miles. About 200 to 300 people also enjoyed the dunk tank, face-painting, bake sale and other activities, Lynch said.
By Sunday evening, organizers had not yet tallied how much money they raised, Lynch said.
Donations are still being accepted online here. T-shirts from the fundraiser also are available; contact Lynch at 630-553-4380 or clynch@yorkville.k12.il.us for information.
