Students of the Year Fox Valley
Ian Ridlehoover | Making Waves
Ian's Making Waves SOY Fundraiser
Ian's Students of the Year Fundraiser
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page, welcome!
My name is Ian Ridlehoover. I'm a junior at Appleton East High School in Appleton, WI. Throughout my whole life, I've loved to challenge myself, especially through swimming! I love to swim, and it's been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. That's why if my campaign reaches our goal of $50,000, I will SWIM ACROSS LAKE WINNEBAGO! It will be the longest swim I have ever done at TEN MILES!
Obviously, I can't do this alone, and I need YOUR help to reach my goal. If you are willing and able, please consider making a donation to this page. No donation is too small, and every single dollar we raise gets us closer to permanently ending blood cancer! If you are unwilling or unable to make a donation, please at least consider sharing this page or our social media pages (linked below) with your friends and family.
Follow us on social media here:
@MakingWavesLLS
@makingwaveslls
Making Waves
More information on LLS below:
As a global leader in the fight to end cancer, LLS is committed to doing more for blood cancer patients and families than any organization in the world. LLS’s signature fundraising campaigns drive critical support for its mission, including a nearly $1.3 billion investment in cutting edge cancer research worldwide since it was founded in 1949. Since the 1960s, survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled.
Every facet of LLS’s mission – research, education and support, and policy and advocacy – work in harmony to put blood cancer patients and their families first. LLS has helped millions impacted by cancer throughout its more than 70-year history, even funding breakthrough blood cancer research to advance lifesaving treatments and cures that is now helping patients with other cancers and diseases. That is why at LLS we say that beating cancer is in our blood.
Please visit my website as often as you can and share it with everyone you know who would also like to join us in the fight against cancer. Together, we CAN achieve a world without blood cancer. All donations are tax-deductible.
On behalf of cancer patients and their families everywhere, thank you so much for your support.
For more information about LLS, please visit lls.org
194 Comments
Custom Ink LLC
Thanks for designing your awesome team shirts with Custom Ink!
Jennifer Kocovsky
Good luck, Ian! Way to go!
Barbara Steinfeldt
Looking forward to seeing you swim!
Ellen Steger
Ian, thanks for participating in this fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). In 2016 I was diagnosed with MDS--Myelodysplastic Syndrome, sometimes known as pre-leukemia. I have no siblings and no good donor matches on the national registry. Luckily, prior to my needing a transplant, science and research had developed a way to conduct a transplant using your children's cells. My transplant was on June 30, 2017, and our older son was my donor. I will soon be a 4-year survivor. Thanks to research into Leukemia and Lymphoma, I am leading a happy, productive life...and enjoying every minute of it!!! Ellen Steger
Mark and DeeGee Williams
Make some waves, Ian! Mark Williams
The Mitchells
You’re awesome Ian!!! Cheering for you from TX!
Bojarski Family
Good luck Ian!
The Mt-Reillys
Best of luck to reach your goal, Ian!
Alan & Barbara Steger
A great cause, Ian. Thanks for the opportunity to support you.
Sharon Swink
you GO!
Linda Hash
We'll be cheering you on, Ian, both in your fundraising and in your swim.
Dr. Alison Craig
Good luck, Ian! During residency, your mom and I cared for many children with cancer. Codie was one of those patients. You are making a difference, Ian. Keep it up! Alison
Syring Family
Good luck, Ian!!!
Anonymous
Thank you for doing this for such a worthwhile cause Ian! Swim strong and be safe!
Todd and Catherine McKenzie
Good luck!
Kurt Steger
Good Luck Ian!
Todd & Terri Freeman
Best wishes, Ian...quite a challenge!
Rico L
We love and support your cause! Swim hard and leave them all behind in your wake. You got this!
Scott & Saija Searles
Way to go Ian!
Five for Fighting
Looking forward to Trivia Night!!
Dye Family
Here’s to making BIG waves!!
Susan Suprise
Should be a piece of cake compared to Sharkfest. I'm friends with your proud grandparents, Dave and Sue Lee, and am happy to support you in this worthy cause.
Head, Gut, or Groin
Can’t wait for trivia!
Anonymous
Great work Ian! We are so proud of all of your accomplishments!
Sandy Wiggert
What an awesome thing!! (Your aunt is bragging about you!)
Dave and Sue Lee
For Ellen Steger—stay strong and stay healthy. Love you Ian. Keep your eyes on the distant shore.
Dave and Sue Lee
In Memory of Bob Stephenson, our friend who lost his battle with leukemia on March 3, 2021.
Candy & Spence Cattell
Good luck, Ian! Happy to support you in reaching your goal and to MAKE YOU SWIM!
The Prestigiacomo Family
Can’t wait to watch you swim the lake!!
Dr. Mark Halstead and Family
Good luck, Ian! We hope you reach your goal!
Brady Nathan
Good luck Ian!
Bixler Family
Hoping to see you make your goal Ian!
Diane Lepak
Good luck in your challenge, Ian. What an amazing cause. Hoping one day, through ground-breaking research, we can put an end to ALL cancers! God bless and good luck!
Bill & Julie Gardner
Stay safe!!♥️
Abby Schmidt
Good Luck Ian!
Stephanie Piwoni
What a great cause! Go Ian!!
Keith and Tracy Schmitz
Great cause, go Ian!!
marcia and dan vandenbrink
Best of luck on the swim! Thank you for raising money for such a worthy cause!
Jane Savatski
I so admire this challenge you are taking on! Best of luck Ian!
Jennifer Groos
Thank you from your efforts!
Kate Moseng
Happy to Support your cause Ian! You are awesome!
Todd Bushmaker
From a patient to an advocate and aspiring oncologist, thank you!
John Meltz
See you in Stockbridge!
Keller Family
Amazing, Ian!
Nicholson Family
Good luck Ian! We hope you reach your goal.
Jason Boutwell
Ian - your mother is an old friend of mine. Most adults are sucker for a few things. 1) A kid who is a hustler and 2) crazy feats of physical endurance 3) a good cause. You found a way to do all three - way to go. Hoping you don't hit lakefly season or the fall algae blooms. Jason Boutwell a fan in North Dakota PS - I ran my first marathon for L&L
Dickens family
WTG, Ian
Gallaher Family
Go Ian!!! We are cheering from Nashville for ya! The Gallaher Family
Deborah Haas Johnson
Amazing project Ian, good for you! When your mom and I were swimmers together long ago, we would never have been able to do anything like this! - Deb (Haas) Johnson
Heather Braun
Good luck, Ian!
Melanie Cowlishaw
Happy Early Birthday, Ellen!
VanderLoop Family
Great job, Ian! Proud of you!
Shirley Hamilton
Hello from Alabama! Happy to support this.
kim smarzinski
The one reason we love sports/activities for our kids is that they give you the drive to always work harder, get better and hopefully gets you out of your comfort zone. We are so proud of you taking this on to raise money for your charity! it says a lot about YOU, your character and your family. We are happy to be apart of it:) I work with your mom and follow you in the paper for swimming. Cant wait for you to accomplish this feet!!! Kim, Brian Smarzinski and family
Tausha Sylver in Vermont
Good work! Tausha in Vermont ??
Sean Goffard Family
Our donation is in honor of our oldest son Sean who at the age of 22 is courageously battling T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma. He is amazingly strong and will kick cancer’s butt! Love you, Sean. PS, thank you for doing this!
Kristen Barry
My husband, Dave, beat AML in 2019.
Mike and Susan Michlig
Keep up the great work, Ian!
Tricia Boehlke
Great cause, by a great person! Good luck with your swim Ian.
Clarence Harris
Ian, thank you for your leadership and commitment to LLS! You have made your grandfather very proud! All the best, Lion Clarence
Kenneth Branstetter
Swim Ian, SWIM !!!
Elizabeth Vitella
Good Job Ian! From Surf Bagel in Lewes Delaware
Mark Tramontozzi
Good luck
Erik Lee & Emily Van Dunk
Thanks Ian for your work to raise $ for this important cause.
Gerald Ridle
Pleased to support a noble cause and a terrific Grandson .
Bonnie and Harry Spiegelberg
Good Luck Ian.
Sharnell Valentine
Great Cause!! Good luck with your swim!
Laura Vandeweghe
Go Ian go!!
Corrie Kassler
Donation in honor of Eli
Blackburn Family
Swim Ian Swim!
Vee Lee & Family
Anything to help your cause Ian! Swim Strong.
Wittak Family
Thank you IAN!!! So grateful, as our daughter, is a Leukemia survivor. What an amazing thing you are doing! Have a great Swim and we will all be cheering you on!
Syring Family
Best of luck, Ian!
Wanda Meehan
Ian wants to swim !
Heidi Van Dunk
Swim strong, Ian!
Candice Cattell
Happy to help you reach this all important goal!
Stacy Steger
Swim Ian Swim!!
Peter Karofsky
Go Ian. Peter and Kathy K
Kari & Jim Ridlehoover
So close!! Let’s go Ian!
Tara Keesler
Home stretch, Ian!
Alexis Platt
Almost there, Ian!
Colleen and Richard
Great and very funny comedians last week! Keep up the challenge! Colleen and Richard
Susan Schuldes
What an awesome undertaking! Our daughter, Stephanie was diagnosed with ALL when she was seven weeks old and was treated with a chemotherapy protocol funded by LLC. We were very involved with LLS during her years of treatment as recipients and the for over fifteen years afterwards as volunteers. She is now 30 and perfectly healthy so she really benefited from LLS research. Susan Spiegelberg Schuldes
Ann Powell
In support of Ian Ridlehoover swim.
Corey W Otis
Go, Ian!
Amanda Nilsson
Such an amazing thing you're doing, Ian!
Scott Weyenberg
Good Luck Ian!
Sara Laumer
Senior photo shoot
Colleen Correa
Photo shoot
Cari Ullrich
Go Ian!
Eileen Jekot
In honor of my Uncle Jim who fought bravely against lymphoma
The Ridlehoover Family
Proud of you Ian! Please don’t drown :-)
Ann Powell
To support Ian Ridlehoover's swim. Good luck.
Amy Steinbach
Go Ian!
Abigail Poliak
Well done Ian! Great campaign!
John Thiel
Love that you're doing this Ian!
Maria Mandt
What a fantastic cause, Ian! Best of luck!
Nicholas "Chip" Retson
Sounds like a great challenge for a worthy cause!
The Mitchells
Go get em!
Robert Ferrante
Good Luck Ian!
Anonymous
Go Ian!
Keesler Krew
Swim fast, Ian! The Keesler Family
Carolyn Cockroft
Thanks Emily for allowing me to support such a worthy cause!
Keith Ristinen
Nevada
Anonymous
Great job and good luck!
Peapenburg Family
Good Luck Ian! We are cheering for you and hope you reach your goal.
Tyler and Kristen Brown
Good luck reaching your goal!
Anonymous
From Kentucky
Amy Knuth
Good Luck from Nebraska!
Amy Gabarra
Good luck from RI
The Maddaloni Family
Go Ian!
Anonymous
Go Ian!!! Thanks for making a difference and giving hope.
Louis D Agnew
Good luck Ian! Hope the weather is perfect. Can you eat while swimming? If so... start practicing (carefully) now😉
The Hodsons
Thanks Ian! Best Wishes from the Hodson's.
L & P & E
I hope you have to jump in a lake!
Jennifer Swoboda
Amazing thing your doing Ian.
Jake Prestigiacomo
I'm happy I can donate to a great cause to help Ian reach his goal!
Laura Westfall
Good luck, Ian! At least you won't have to worry about doing flip turns in the lake :)
Heidi Van Dunk
Thanks Ian!! You’re doing an amazing thing. Swim strong!
Nat Blaz
For Ian’s campaign! From team GENES.
Todd, Susan and Allison Greeneway
Great cause, looking forward to you reaching your goal. The Greeneway Family
Justin Stimpson
Keep the pace! What an awesome thing to do!
Eileen Carr
You are a wonderful person who gives me hope for the future (just like your amazing Auntie Sonja)
James J Schumacher
Sonja told me about this; good cause and good luck! Watch out for the legendary Lake Winnebago water monster...
Amy Temple
Best of luck Ian!!!! Donation coming from Arkansas.
Jonathan Olson
Hi, Ian! We are friends with Dave and Sue Lee, and happy to help! We used to live in Green Bay, but now live in New Orleans, Louisiana, so can help you hit at least one more state! Congratulations on setting such an ambitious goal, and good luck! Jon & Patti Olson
Libby Nelson
Thanks for doing this, Ian!
Anonymous
In memory of Rick Sommer. The cure for his lymphoma wasn't available. Hopefully soon. Thank you Ian for helping to make a cure available one day.
Kristina Van Slyke
Friends of the Dyes support your efforts.
Rechner Family
Good luck!
patrick glover
In honor of a great wife and friend!
Jennifer Quinn Broda
Good luck, Ian!
Maren Ott
Best of luck Patriot proud!
LIsa Dedrick
Best of luck to you Ian! I’m donating in memory of my father in law Leo Dedrick, who lost his battle with leukemia! Lisa Dedrick🙏❤️
Mary Lee Rositch
Thank you for your dedication. As a boater on Lake Winnebago and a former competitive swimmer I admire tour choice of venue. Keep your mouth closed and remeber to kick. Good Luck!! Keep us posted on exact dates qould love to see this in action. I donated in memory of my mother qho has quickly after a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia 2/4/2020.
Jennifer Szmanda
Good luck!
Jodi LeMoine
Good luck and be safe above all!!
Tracy Klug
Saw this on WBAY this morning!! Wish I could do more!! Good luck and have an amazing swim!!
E. Marie Broussard
Thank you for being so courageous and compassionate Ian!
Ann Bartelt
Way to go! Totally believe you will meet and exceed your goal- Thanks for your inspiration and care for others. God bless!
Brianna Solis
Even though I can’t donate as much money as I would want to, I know that any amount of money will help someone. I want to help people, and I encourage others to also do the same.
Dr Eileen
Let’s do this! Go Ian!
Fallyn
??????
Sara Laumer
Good luck Ian
Angela Manchester
Good luck, Ian!
Patricia Acha
As a survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, I salute your swim! APhi Beta sister, NU 1983.
Laura Carter
Way to go Ian!
The Bonikowske Family
You are stronger than you know.
Colleen Lee
Good luck Ian! LLS is such a great cause for you to be involved with! We are rooting for you and know you'll be taking that long Lake Winnebago swim! Take care, Colleen and Richard
Dave and Sue Lee
In Memory of Brett Carroll who bravely battled manttle cell lymphoma for 8 years, going through many new treatments that he hoped would not only help him but others as well.
Beyer Family
Swim strong!
Jeffery Ridlehoover
Go get it, Ian!
Kris Horn
Good luck Ian! What a great cause - thanks for making a difference!
William Walsh
Great cause, Ian! For my money, you don’t even have to swim the lake! ?? Good luck!
Hurleys
Amazing! Good luck, Ian!
Kavita Peavy
Good Luck Ian!
Dumproff family
Best of luck to you Ian!!
Elizabeth Franzoi
Hi Ian! Your Mother has been taking amazing care of the Franzoi/Korth kids since 2002 at ThedaCare Peds - happy to support you in your quest to swim 'Bago for Student of the Year/LLS. Best of luck :) Drew, Bryn & Frank
CLAIRE ROBINSON
Your Aunt Sonja has great fundraising skills! We're cheering you on from Michigan! -The Robinson Family
Rebecca Carl
Way to go Ian!
Andrea Westergaard
So excited for you, Ian!! I hope to be on this side of Winnebago with signs!!
Pat & Wanda Meehan
Best of luck to achieve your goal . Pat & Wanda Meehan
Peter and Kathy
Go Ian!
Parker Davis
Ian, Keep your eye on the prize and your mouth closed in that nasty water. Cheering you on! Parker Davis Family
Jennifer Graham
Go Ian! Oh and Reid says he wants to swim it with you! :)
Reene Sampson
Moe says “I’m happy to help Ezra’s cousin swim across a lake...especially if it’s a dirty one!”
Diane Vaaler Withers
I wish you all the best! Thanks for stepping up and showing others the courage and creativity of your efforts! Diane - (Sonja's neighbor)
Sonja Meehan
Swim, Ian, swim!!!
Gerald Ridl
Very happy to support a great cause and our Grandson IAN . Gerald & Kathy Ridlehoover
Karen Johnson
Good luck Ian! I admire your efforts!
Scott & Saija Searles
A little more to get you to the other side!
Hilary Lee
Here's hoping you get to swim across that lake Ian!
Susan R Michlig
Way to go, Ian! You are an inspiration to others!
Eileen jekot
Go Ian Go Ian Go ian
David Stringham
Go Ian Go! Your selfless generosity is an inspiration. Together we will find a cure!
Deborah Novak
Way to go Ian! Good luck!
Brittany Golden
Good luck buddy!!! You are gonna swim so well!
Joseph Neilitz
Great job Ian. Keep up the good work!
Ron and Cindy Krimbel
Watched Ian finish his swim in Stockbridge, great idea and very inspiring.
Kent and Debbie Sorensen
You’re an amazing young man, Ian! Our little grandson, Finn, was just diagnosed last month. Thank you so much for all you’ve done to help this cause and generate awareness!
Katherine Carter
Congratulations and thank you!!
Lou Hull
Thank you!
Christina Nelson
Kaine strong Oshkosh
Tammala J. Juul
What a wonderful accomplishment! We wish you the best in your medical career. My husband is a retired Critical Care Paramedic and Assistant Fire Chief and I am an RN. We are fortunate to be at your finish line. Bless your heart, sweetheart. Best Wishes, Tammy and Mark Juul
Diane Huenink
We are waiting at the Harbor Bar!
Cindy Uecker
Oh my...I remember when you were just a baby! Great goals Ian!!!! You have a huge heart! From The Ueckers. (Previous neighbors on Elmview :)
OB Outdoors, LLC
Thank you so much Ian. We wish you the best swim possible.
Barbara & Al Steger
Congratulations Ian. Even if you don't make your goal, which I'm sure you will, you've alreadey succeeded. Philanthropy is a great habit, especially for young people like you. Don't ever stop.
Dana Lynn Bork
Best wishes Ian!
Sharnell Valentine
Get swimmin!
Kate & Jens Moseng
Just thought we would drop a few more dollars to help you reach your goal’!
The Stanonik's
Good luck!
Jamie L Schnurer
You’ve got this Ian!
Thomas J. Lee
Good luck , Ian!