Hinsdale Central’s Happy Club, sponsored by Mrs. Patel of the social studies department, took an active approach to a tragedy that occurred last year when a senior at Benet Academy suffered a devastating spinal cord injury.

Andrew Valadka, a senior at Benet Academy, experienced a spinal fracture while playing football in October of 2014. After members of Happy Club heard that Valadka was still fighting the injury, they held a fundraiser to help offset the hospital costs.

“We can only imagine how hard it must have been to suffer such a misfortune,” Mrs. Patel said.  “But we felt it would be appropriate for us to try to give him some hope.”

The fundraiser raised more than $800 for Valadka’s medical and rehabilitative expenses. Valadka has been in intensive physical therapy since October.

Hinsdale Central administration sent out a newsletter to students via e-mail on behalf of the Happy club fundraising team and the Valadka family, thanking them for any support they may have given, and encouraged to show continued support for Valadka’s recovery.