Becky’s Warriors supports Marian catholic families facing cancer
We are a not-for-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization.
It was started by a few friends that had attended Marian Catholic High School in the 1990s.
As each of them had been somehow affected by the disease, they recognized that cancer is an equal opportunity offender and affects people physically, emotionally, financially, as well as spiritually. While there are many wonderful organizations that help fund cancer research and continue to work towards a cure for cancer, oftentimes the cancer fighters and their families need help with day-to-day expenses like:
- childcare
- living expenses due to a loss of income
- tuition for their children to continue school
Who We Are
In 2014, Chuck Hicks, a 1994 graduate of Marian Catholic, organized a golf outing for a dear friend and fellow Marian alum who had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Chuck gathered a few friends from the Class of ’94 to help plan the event for Becky Eaton Lopez—a kind, spirited, and generous soul from the Class of ’95. The goal was simple: to help Becky, her husband, and their young son cover medical bills and ease the burden of day-to-day expenses.
Heartbreakingly, Becky passed away just a few months before the outing. The funds raised at that very first event were given to her husband, Ken, and their son, Drew. It was a powerful reminder of what a close-knit and compassionate community Marian Catholic inspires.
That one act of kindness sparked something bigger. Moved by the outpouring of support, Chuck and several Marian alums felt called to do more. Together, they founded Becky’s Warriors—a nonprofit devoted to helping Marian Catholic families facing the challenges of cancer.
Now, more than a decade later, Becky’s Warriors has raised over $221,000. What started as a heartfelt gesture between friends has become a lasting mission, deeply rooted in the values and friendships formed at Marian in the ’90s.
Today, our Board is made up of 10 proud Marian Catholic alumni from the ’80s and ’90s. We’re 100% volunteer-run, meeting monthly over Zoom and connecting in person whenever we can. Our two signature events—the summer Golf Outing and the fall Spike Out Cancer Invitational—anchor our efforts. Beyond those, we stay active on social media and continue to welcome support from the broader Marian community.
What We Do
Becky’s Warriors supports Marian Catholic families facing the difficult journey of a cancer diagnosis.
(Marian Catholic is a college preparatory high school in Chicago Heights, IL.)
Over the past 11 years, we’ve helped more than 50 families—and we’re just getting started.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’ve raised over $221,000. More than half of that—over $110,000—has gone directly to students in the form of tuition assistance. These are students whose parents have bravely battled cancer or, in some heartbreaking cases, lost that fight.
But our support goes beyond tuition. We’ve helped alumni cover everyday essentials—mortgages, rent, groceries, and medical bills. We send gas cards to families traveling back and forth for treatment. We send care packages filled with comfort and encouragement. And always, always—we send our prayers.
Becky’s Warriors is about showing up with love, hope, and practical support—just as Becky would have.
This is Why Becky’s Warriors was Started
To help ease some of the financial burden that comes with a cancer fight and inspire hope and courage to those who are dealing with cancer. We do this in honor of our friend, Becky Eaton Lopez, who showed us what it really meant to be a Warrior. She was tough, she was feisty, and she had a great sense of humor - and she continues to inspire us to this day!
Becky’s Warriors is 100% volunteer-based and your generous donations go to families that are battling cancer.