IC track and field teams walk for St. Jude in honor of recruit

Eric and Susan Kerper, parents of Vincent Kerper, an Ithaca College track and field recruit who died from brain cancer, honor their son at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital walk organized by the track and field teams.

The Ithaca College track and field community traded their spikes for walking shoes on Sept. 26 to honor St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in memory of a recruit, Vincent Kerper.

Kerper was remembered for his love for track and music, his sense of humor and his easy going nature. Kerper’s father, Eric Kerper, shared memories of his son following a charity and honor walk around campus organized by the IC track and field teams.

“He’s that kid that, as a parent, you want your daughter to come home and say, ‘Hey, mom, dad, I met someone,’” Eric Kerper said. “‘I hope you like him. Who’s that kid? Who’s that good of a guy?’ So that’s the best way I can describe him.”

Before being diagnosed with brain cancer, Vincent Kerper committed to IC’s men’s track and field team to compete in the 200m and 400m races. Vincent Kerper graduated from Springfield Township High School in June 2025 and was planning to study physical therapy at IC beginning August 2025. Vincent Kerper delayed his start at IC to receive treatment, but died July 18.

Vincent Kerper spent three months at St. Jude in Memphis, Tennessee undergoing medical care. Eric Kerper and Vincent Kerper’s mother, Susan Kerper, said they are grateful for the care Vincent and their family received from the organization.

“The stuff you see in those TV commercials about St. Jude doesn’t even touch half the stuff they do,” Eric Kerper said. “It’s the little things that they do that make you forget that you’re in there for cancer treatment, like they have a shuttle to take you to a Walmart, so you can buy flip-flops for your kids. Things you take for granted. … It’s a great organization.”

St. Jude is a pediatric research hospital, treating “catastrophic diseases,” like cancer and sickle cell disease. According to its website, the hospital is primarily funded by donors, and therefore families getting care at St. Jude will never receive a bill for treatment, housing and food costs.

Marco Lopergolo, a sophomore thrower for the men’s track and field team, said the walk was mainly dedicated to spreading awareness for St. Jude and brain cancer, but was an opportunity to fundraise for the hospital through online and cash donations. IC track and field’s portal surpassed a goal of $1,700, raising $2,283 from 61 contributors.

Lopergolo never met Vincent Kerper on a personal basis, but he said still held a place for him in his heart, along with many of his teammates.

“I knew he was a very strong human being,” Lopergolo said. “Everybody loved him, … and he was just a really bright ray of sunshine. And you could tell when [he] walked into the room that the room got a lot brighter. … We could just tell he was an amazing human being, and he fought very hard.”

The walk’s invitation was extended to anyone in the IC athletics community. Vincent Kerper’s parents, members of women and men’s track and field teams, women’s lacrosse and basketball teams and other members of the IC community began the morning at the Athletics and Events Center, walked as a group through campus, circled back and ended with remarks from Eric Kerper, Susan Kerper, men’s head coach Stargell Williams and women’s head coach Jennifer Potter.

Walkers made various colorful and decorative signs to walk with sayings like “Bomb Cancer,” “No one walks alone,” and others. The A&E Center was decorated with balloons, a poster board with pictures of Vincent and IC track and field flags. The track and field athletes also wore T-shirts with “In Memory of Vincent Kerper” written on the sleeve.

A playlist of music by Brent Faiyaz, a popular R&B artist, played in the background of the post-walk gathering. Williams said he bonded with Kerper during the recruitment process over their similar taste in music.

“We’re actually listening to one of his favorite artists, Brent Faiyaz, who’s actually one of my favorite artists too,” Williams said. “Obviously, he loved track and field, loved the sport and he was just a chill dude, easy to talk to. I think that’s what made the recruiting process easy for us because obviously we care about the track and field side of things, but you know we were easily connected on things outside of track and field.”

Williams said Vincent Kerper fell in love with Ithaca, visited many times and formed a close relationship with him. Potter came to Williams with the idea of hosting a walk in 2025, and hosted the first one in Sept. 2025 with Vincent Kerper present.

After his passing, Williams stayed connected with Eric and Susan Kerper and decided to continue the tradition.

“[Eric and Susan Kerper] welcomed me [at his funeral service] and they invited me out to lunch with their family,” Williams said. “They’re just very good people, very welcoming people and we appreciate them for just keeping us involved, even though they’re going through a tough time.”

Susan Kerper said Potter and Williams organized the entire event and welcomed her family.

“We’re just thrilled that they’re doing this second year in a row now,” Susan Kerper said. “We hope they do continue. We’ll try to be here every year with them, supporting it.”

Williams said the Kerper family was extremely grateful to see athletes from various sports and other members of the IC athletic community come to the event.

“I love to see Bombers supporting Bombers,” Williams said. “We try to do a good job of connecting with all our athletics here, even though we’re kind of spread out throughout campus.”

Lopergolo said he hopes the tradition continues, even after he graduates from IC.

“It just shows in a world like today, everybody still can be unified and do something for a greater cause,” Lopergolo said. “[Track and field, women’s lacrosse and basketball] are all under one big umbrella of a team, Ithaca Bombers. … Everybody [came] together not only to walk for Vincent, but walk for this, an amazing organization.”

Williams said Vincent Kerper’s story motivates him to continue the tradition of St. Jude walks.

“[This is] something we want to continue to do,” Williams said. [We are] moving forward to keep his memory alive and obviously continue to support St. Jude and others that are going through the same struggle.”

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