Sibling trio shares life-saving mission

Parents Jerry and Elizabeth Spar of Hopkinton have led by example, their three children said, for becoming involved in meaningful community service projects. They, and grandmother Judy Spar of Newton, have directly inspired the trio to lend their time to a grassroots fundraiser walk in their hometown.

Siblings Olivia Spar, 21, Ellis Spar, 18, and Kyler Spar, 15, have each volunteered their time on the Relay For Life of Hopkinton Event Leadership Team. The overnight walk is the town’s signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Olivia was Event Lead before heading to Boston College and working on the Relay For Life event there. Ellis is currently co-chair of the Hopkinton event, while Kyler works as a committee member.

Grandmother Judy Spar, a colon cancer survivor, would often bring the three of them along to her local Relay For Life event, joining arms with them to walk a few laps. While she went through much of her treatment before they can remember, her passion for supporting Relay For Life was motivating, they said.

“I feel like we’ve followed in our grandmother’s example,” said Ellis. “Everyone can think of someone who’s been affected by cancer. All it takes is a little bit of effort to make a big impact.”

Because they have an unspoken communication within their family, they often do not even have to ask each other to help with the “little things” during the walk, from arranging raffle baskets to emptying trash bags, they just get them done, Olivia explained.

“As the oldest, it’s been so cool for me to see them step up and get involved, to carry it on,” said Olivia, who is a junior at Boston College.

The siblings say it is important for them to make time for the cause they believe in, despite their busy schedules. On top of schoolwork, they volunteer with their father for the town’s youth basketball program. This year, Ellis and Kyler both coach youth team, help Special Olympics teams, work at Kumon tutoring students after school and lend their time to their school’s student councils. Olivia this past fall complete a college semester abroad in Italy.

Their mom always has good advice on how to balance their time commitments and to deal with conflicts on their various volunteer committees, they said.

“When I was younger, I didn’t understand fully the meaning behind a lot of it, like walking silently during luminaria,” said Kyler. “But, through the years, I would watch my siblings speak publicly during the Relay For Life ceremonies, and I felt proud. I wanted to work with them. I’m happy to be a part of it now.”

These days, their extended family members often join them at Relay For Life walks as well.

“Their family is extremely dedicated to our life-saving mission and have helped make Hopkinton a top performing event over the years,” said Community Development Manager Matt Eckhardt of the American Cancer Society.

Olivia summed up the family’s involvement, “We’re all in it together.”

For more information about registering or donating to the Relay For Life of Hopkinton, visit www.RelayForLife.org/HopkintonMA. Details about the Relay For Life of Boston College are online at www.RelayForLife.org/BC.