Lake Zurich Young Man Fights Rare Form of Leukemia

Update, Dec. 7

Katherine Hetlet announced that the Ryland Kollar benefit has been cancelled due to personal circumstances. 

Dec. 5

Lake Zurich resident Ryland Kollar, 23, has been through more pain in his life than anyone should have to endure, said family friend Katherine Hetlet.

“He’s a really outgoing kid and he always has a smile on his face no matter what kind of pain he’s in and lately he’s in a ridiculous amount of pain. Yet he’s always there to brighten someone else’s pain,” she said.

Ryland has been fighting a rare form of leukemia, T-Cell ALL, since he was 12 years old. He is now in his fifth relapse and is undergoing treatment.

Ryland is still covered under his parent’s medical insurance, although the insurance does not cover all expenses, such as co-insurance and co-pays which are adding up due to the amount of hospital stays, testing, treatments and medications, Hetlet said. This benefit is to support Ryland with his uncovered expenses.

“We want to help him as much as we can,”  Hetlet said.  A committee that consists of Hetlet, Ryland’s mom Laura Santucci, Maureen Currier and Kathy Berman is organizing a fundraiser that will be held Saturday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m. at the American Legion Post 964.

The Ryland Kollar fundraiser will include a jazz band and other bands, food and a cash bar. Minimum donation is $10. There will be a silent auction, raffle tickets, and t-shirts and wristbands will be sold throughout the night.

Hetlet said the committee has at least 70 donations which include hotel stays and sporting events. “We hit just about every business in Lake Zurich and some national ones as well, “ she said.

"He is going through the worse thing in his life and we just want to make him more comfortable. He's an amazing person,' Hetlet said. 

Read more about Ryland Kollar.

To donate contact kmhetlet@gmail.com or Maureen.Currier@Siemens.com

Editor's note: This article was changed on Dec. 7 to include corrected information on Ryland Kollar's medical insurance coverage.

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