Man Battling Cancer Builds Playground

By Cassandra Duvall

CREATED Aug. 24, 2012

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GREEN BAY, WI – A brand new playground, for the very first time at Holy Family School in Green Bay. Families raised nearly $40,000 over two years, to put in the equipment. They've been selling bricks to have engraved that will go along the outside of the playground, and doing fundraisers at school

This entire project was brought together by a man, who is battling cancer. Ted Balthazor wanted to leave his legacy, for his kids and the entire community.
 
After a car accident in 2007, doctors found the tumor in his lung.
 
“It’s a miracle we had the car crash, because that was what told me I had the cancer,” he said. 
 
But that hasn't stopped him from getting this playground finished. 
 
“That’s the last thing I think about is the cancer,” he said. 
 
All the money came from families, and the fundraising is teaching the kids a valuable lesson.
 
“I shared with my kids the other day, you know if you work hard for something, this is what happens,” said Melissa Lempkuil, a Holy Family Parent. 
 
Today, the community spirit continues, as those same families put on the finishing touches, spreading wood chips and testing out the equipment.
 
Before this, students were playing on the concrete parking lot, with only kick balls and chalk. But that's no longer the case. They have everything, slides, monkey bars and swings.
 
“It keeps them active, fun, just a great alternative when they're outside,” said Lempkuil.
 
Balthazor takes a close look at the end result of the hard work; happy he's able to see it all the way through.
 
“I keep stepping back and looking at it, and going, that's crazy, look how wonderful it looks,” he said. 
 
The school is still accepting donations for a phase two of the project, to put in even more equipment. A formal ceremony for the playground opening will take place next week during Back to School Night.