Kick-It, an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) program, is a national volunteer-driven effort focused solely on raising money for childhood cancer research. For many athletes around the country, it’s a chance to help be part of a good cause, one that could help others of all ages.

Loyola Academy football junior kicker Nate Van Zelst decided to be one of those helped. He became a member of the The Kick-It Champion for Kids Program — a part of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation — a National Organization registered 501(c)3 charity whose mission is to “change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and empowering everyone to cure childhood cancer.”

Van Zelst decided to join the program this summer when he was attending a kicking camp.

“I go to Kohl’s Kicking Camp (during the offseason), and before every camp, they start out with a video,” Van Zelst said. “The video is basically about a kid who was diagnosed with cancer and he wanted to still play football but he couldn’t have any contact. So he decided to become a kicker and for every point he made, people pledged a dollar amount and then I think he raised like a thousand dollars his first season and it just kept growing and growing. 

“I thought it was a great way to represent Loyola and our football team, and Kick-It is probably my favorite thing to do outside of school and I wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives while doing the thing I love, which is kicking.”

There are multiple ways for kickers to raise money for the charity. People interested in donating can either pledge a certain amount per point scored by Van Zelst or make a one-time payment, all on Van Zelst’s fundraising page he’s made on the Alex’s Lemondade website.

Van Zelst’s fundraising goals are to score 75 points and raise $35,000. 

Until seeing the video, the Loyola junior didn’t really think he’d do something like this.

“Honestly, not really, but once I saw that video it really jumped out at me and I thought it was a great opportunity,” he said.

“I think the most important thing for me is how much every kick means. It just reminds me that football is more than just a game and it reminds me how lucky I am to be able to play the sport. It’s a great feeling having a kick mean so much to others, not just me and the team.”

Van Zelst, who has been kicking since the fifth grade, started focusing more on just kicking in his freshman year. Prior to that he had also played wide receiver, but once he got to high school, kicking became his focus.

Something that helped him with that is that he was able to be the team’s kicker last year as a sophomore. And he exploded onto the scene, earning MaxPreps  Sophomore All-America honors after last season, while also being named a Preseason First Team All-American before the current season.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I was kind of surprised when I first found out, but honestly the first thing I thought about was my long snapper and holder. It was Christo Kelly as the long snapper and then Johnny Grogan in the holder. 

“I’m lucky to have those two guys, and without them I wouldn’t have been able to have such a great season to get those awards and stuff. So the first thing that came to mind was those two guys and how much they helped me throughout the season. But yeah, it was an awesome feeling to get recognition like that.

As of the end of the 2019 season, Van Zelst had raised $35,884.

To learn more about the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit https://www.alexslemonade.org/kickit/champions and to donate to Van Zelst’s campaign, visit https://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1861508.