Health and Fitness : SACK: Knights raise money to 'Sack' SIDS, Autism and Cancer

[caption id="attachment_24238" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mark and Elisha Palmer of the Knox Blox Foundation joined the Union captains during SACK night.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_24239" align="alignright" width="300"] Union football manager Olivia Scott received the check on behalf of the River Hills facility. Autism was one of the causes addressed, along with SIDS and cancer.[/caption] By Dean Close, Editor For the people of the Union community, many major diseases remind them of the names of local residents who have lost their lives to those diseases. Most recently, the death of Jake Wilson, an autistic teenager, helped the school body and area residents understand more about autism. In December of 2016, the community lost 3-month-old Knox Palmer to SIDS. And several area residents close to the heart of the Union community -- among them Terry "Toro" Ewoldt, who had been the QB of Joe Hadachek's high school football team. Those who are trying to raise awareness of these causes  received support from the Union football family during Friday's game. Mark and Elisha Palmer were honorary captains during Friday's 34-6 win over Benton. They joined the Union captains at midfield for the coin toss. The parents of Knox Palmer have started the Knox Blox Foundation to help provide Owlet socks which can monitor a baby's heartbeat and breathing. Also receiving donations from the sale of "SACK" t-shirts on behalf of the U of Iowa Children's Hospital oncology department was UHS cheerleading coach Kayleen Chapman. And Olivia Scott received a donation for River Hills, a place designed to help teens with autism. Olivia is one of the Union football managers. "This originated with us always wanting to lift up and support our community," said Hadachek. In the past, he explained, Union has held cancer or autism awareness nights, hoping to help raise funds and awareness, and to show support for area residents and students facing those challenges. He said the death of Knox and Jake helped raise much interest among community members in the need to address autism and SIDS. Hadachek also worked with Chapman to plan the promotion, which they called "SIDS, Autism, Cancer: Kick Them All." The fund-raiser netted more thatn $1,100; many in the stands wore T-shirts with the "SACK" logo.