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16-year-old
from Rifle plans cancer fundraiser
for Eagle Scout project GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Michael Capraro described Saturday’s benefit concert about like this. Into the early evening, five musical groups will play, while families watch from the grass. Kids will be able to roughhouse at a carnival, and there should be games and prizes and crafts to keep them occupied. When all is said and done, hopefully thousands of dollars will have been raised for children’s cancer research.
Not too shabby for an event planned by a 16-year-old. “Me being me, I didn’t want to make it easy,” he said. “If you’re not going to go all the way, don’t even try.” If those sound like the words of a true Boy Scout, that’s just because they are. A member of Glenwood’s Troop 225 since he was 9, the Rifle resident is fast on his way to being awarded the highest rank a Boy Scout under 18 can have — Eagle Scout. But first he’s got to get through this concert. The musical blowout — which benefits the Rally Foundation, a nonprofit aiding children’s cancer research — is all part of his badge process. It’s a test of leadership, and during it he must show that 100 hours of volunteering was put in, and most of it cannot be done by him. His job is to oversee, to organize, to keep the dream alive behind the event. Though tired, the Coal Ridge student looks to have it all under control. Just ask his mom. “I think it’s great,” said Veronica Capraro, sitting next to him. “I think he’s done a great job.” Not that this is anything new, she explained. Ever since he was little, Michael has always wanted to help people. After the Coal Seam Fire, for instance, he organized his fellow Boy Scouts to replant a hillside. A few years later, he made sure they aided in tamarisk removal. Forever, he’s had this dream of beautifying a local cemetery and was going to do so for his badge, until he realized a huge amount of red tape would slow him down. When he found the Rally Foundation on the Internet, she said, he chose it because he knew it was something he could affect right now. Being friends with young cancer survivor Kelsey Bohman made an impact on him as well. He’s so ready to make a difference. “How many parents can say, ‘My kid really cares?’” she asked. “He really cares.” After deciding on the concert a few months ago, certain roadblocks were cleared faster than others, Michael explained. The participating bands and choruses were quick to respond, and they were impressed with his level of professionalism. He wasn’t asking them for a donation, but rather how much they would charge to perform. Most were so pleasantly surprised that they ended donating something to the concert anyway, be it a discount or help with the sound system. Slower to get back with him were sponsoring businesses. Yet, after two months of letters and calls (including some follow up work by Veronica), he was able to rack up an impressive list of patrons. Thanks to them, his planned day of music has grown to include a bounce house, as well food and the carnival for children. To go along with the reasonable price of admission, he plans on making all activities equally low cost. Coming from a family of seven, that means a lot to him. Hopefully, when all is said and done, he’ll have made $2,250 for his cause. Don’t ask him why, he said, he just likes that number. Currently, that would mean taking in more than $3,000 this weekend, but he’s hopeful about it. Still, after Saturday, he’ll sleep loads better, he added. After all, as his mother reminded him, he’s been creating this for thing for the last two months. “I guess it has been, huh?” he said, smiling at her with recognition. “It’s kind of cool to sit back and think on it, ‘I did that.
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