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By Keith Gushard

Meadville Tribune

HAYFIELD TOWNSHIP — Darcie Luikart says she’s been doing it for three years in memory of the giving spirit of her late friend, Kathy Hasenkopf.

Luikart, 16, captains “Kathy’s Angels” one of the 47 teams in this year’s Meadville area Relay for Life, a 24-hour walk-athon to benefit the American Cancer Society. The 14th annual event is being through 1 p.m. today at the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society grounds off Route 198 west of Saegertown.

She was just 13 when she started the team in 2005 to honor family friend, Kathy Hasenkopf, who was battling cancer at the time. Hasenkopf succumb to cancer in 2006 at age 61.

“She cared for people so much,” Luikart said of why she started the team. “I loved working with her with Charity Bears and all the charity stuff she did.”

Mrs. Hasenkopf was a partner in with her daughter, Jill Hasenkopf-Miller, in Charity Bear Co. of Saegertown, a business that designs and sells fund-raiser teddy bears themed around diseases and medical conditions. It primarily raises money for medical research and awareness of life-threatening illnesses.

Mrs. Hasenkopf volunteered with the American Cancer Society, National Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies and other organizations.

“She helped me out a lot,” Luikart said of how she learned to deal both with people and business.

Luikart’s parents, Don and Lisa Luikart, were involved with a team for Hasenkopf when Darcie said she’d like to start her own team to honor her.

“They were very supportive,” Darcie said. “I was young and I thought it would be easy. But there’s a lot of work that goes into it for fund-raising.”