Juli Radz, Alsip Mom Of 9, Facing Cancer, Is 2025 Sallyfest Honoree

ALSIP, IL — For Juli Ann Smolinski Radz, she’s just happy to still be here to hang out with her nine children. Radz is the honoree of this year’s Sallyfest, in memory of Sally Foy, a Mt. Greenwood woman who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Make-A-Wish Illinois.

Radz was diagnosed in March with breast cancer, last year with thyroid cancer, and the year before that, kidney cancer. The emotional and financial toll of her illness has hit her and her nine children, all under age 26, with seven still living at home, like a wrecking ball.

For years, Sally Foy tirelessly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of children and local families facing cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, until she succumbed to cancer herself in 2020.

>>> Clancy's Sallyfest Helps Local Families Hit By Hard Times With Music, Pig Roast, Raffles And More

Picking up Foy’s fallen mantle, her life partner and friends started Sallyfest in 2022, to continue Foy’s mission to raise money for local families hit by hard times, at Clancy’s on 95th Irish Pub in Oak Lawn. The first honoree was the late Chicago Police Officer Patsy Swank, the Ryan Sisters in 2023, and Frank Brazel, Bridgette Oliver and Jessica Tranowski last year.

The 2025 Sallyfest will be held Sept. 13 at Clancy’s on 95th, 5763 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn. Clancy’s largest fundraiser for the Sallyfest Foundation, the festival features a pig roast, all-star music, raffles, split the pot and more. Sallyfest starts at 3 p.m. and there is a limited open bar from 3 to 7 p.m.

“All I can do is thoughts and prayers, but then I thought, ‘I have two businesses. I can raise money,’” said Kevin O’Kennedy, who owns Clancy’s on 95th and Clancy’s Irish Pizza Pub, both in Oak Lawn.

Since June, Radz has been attempting to go back to work, but has not lasted a full day. Proceeds will help Radz and her children with needed home repairs and living expenses.

“We hope to raise enough money to buy her new roof,” O’Kennedy added.

The other 2025 honoree is 12-year-old Patrick Juarez, of Evergreen Park, who was diagnosed last year with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of pediatric cancer.

Advance tickets are $30, or $40 at the door. The after-party is $15. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Sallyfest. Sponsorships are also available, and you can never have too many raffle baskets. For more info, visit Sallyfest.

Radz’s sister, Elizabeth Rice, has also organized a GoFundMe – ‘Support Juli's Fight Against Cancer’ – for much needed home repairs and day-to-day expenses. Rice remarked that it is hard for Juli and her family to accept help because “they are givers, not takers.”