ILLINOIS
The Doings LaGrange
Jane Michaels
jmichaels@pioneerlocal.com | @janemichaels22
Conquering an Ironman Triathlon would leave most challengers exhilarated, but ready for a rest.
But LaGrange Park’s Ken Kaczmarz isn’t putting his feet up just yet. After successfully completing the Ford Ironman Sept. 7 in Madison, Wis., he has his sights set on finishing two more marathons by Nov. 2.
Kaczmarz also is extending his efforts to raise funds for World Vision’s Child Protection programs to combat child trafficking. He set a goal of $10,000 in June and exceeded it before the triathlon. With the generosity of more than 150 donors, he has raised $17,800, including $2,500 from an event Aug. 3 at Brixie’s in Brookfield. …
“One of the reasons I became involved was because as a kid, I was molested by a priest,” he said. “I was extremely active in the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests from 2002 to 2006.”
As one of the leaders of the group in Chicago for years, Kaczmarz said he later decided to channel his efforts in another direction.
“I had to get out of it. It was absorbing my life,” he said. “I’ve helped hundreds of survivors, so I saw what sexual abuse does and how it destroys lives.”
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