In fight vs. cancer, New Lenox school shows ‘people care’

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Eighth-graders Emily Owens (left) 13; Taylor Peters (center) 13; Rachel Kirn (right) 13 skip as they participate Martino Out Walks

Eighth-graders Emily Owens (left), 13; Taylor Peters (center), 13; and Rachel Kirn (right), 13, skip as they participate in the Martino Out Walks Cancer event on the track at Martino Junior High School in New Lenox. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

BrandKilstrom (left) seventh-grade history teacher student council representative cheers partcipants as he emcees deejays during Martino Out Walks Cancer event

Brandon Kilstrom (left), seventh-grade history teacher and student council representative, cheers on partcipants as he emcees and deejays during the Martino Out Walks Cancer event in New Lenox. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

More than 400 students staff participate Martino Out Walks Cancer event track Martino Junior High School Friday Nov. 16 2012

More than 400 students and staff participate in the Martino Out Walks Cancer event on the track at Martino Junior High School Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at 731 E. Joliet Highway, New Lenox. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Seventh-grader Ryan Marozas 13 wears balloshape blue ribbas he participates Martino Out Walks Cancer event track Martino Junior High School

Seventh-grader Ryan Marozas, 13, wears a balloon in the shape of a blue ribbon as he participates in the Martino Out Walks Cancer event on the track at Martino Junior High School Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at 731 E. Joliet Highway, New Lenox. | Matthew Grotto

Thor (center) school mascot along with more than 400 students staff participate Martino Out Walks Cancer event track Martino Junior

Thor (center), the school mascot, along with more than 400 students and staff participate in the Martino Out Walks Cancer event on the track at Martino Junior High School Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, in New Lenox. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Ribbons are visible sign as more than 400 students staff participate Martino Out Walks Cancer event track Martino Junior High

Ribbons are visible on a sign as more than 400 students and staff participate in the Martino Out Walks Cancer event on the track at Martino Junior High School Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at 731 E. Joliet Highway, New Lenox. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

The colorful ribbons bore simple but significant hand-printed names — Nana, Grandma Cindy, Aunt Diane, Melanie, Catherine. Others were printed only with the words “leukemia,” “lung” or “breast.” Hundreds of them were pieced together to create two giant ribbons that adorned the track outside Martino …