The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois is honoring Sebastian Duncan of Glenview, posthumously as the Good Samaritan Hero at the organization’s 17th Annual Heroes Breakfast. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 1 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. For more information please call 312.729.6178 or go to website: redcross.org/heroes.
On a sunny August day, 20-year-old Sebastian and his friend went kayaking in Lake Michigan. When water conditions turned rough, Sebastian’s friend’s kayak overturned. After seeing his friend struggle to remain afloat, Sebastian went to help him, losing his kayak to the strong current in the process. Both men were left holding on to one paddle. Being the stronger swimmer, Sebastian made the decision to let go of the paddle to give his friend the chance to make it to shore, while he swam behind. However, once the friend reached shore with the paddle, he noticed that Sebastian was no longer behind him. Sebastian had made the ultimate sacrifice to save his friend’s life.
“It’s a privilege for the American Red Cross to honor Sebastian Duncan, a young man that selflessly gave his life to keep his friend safe. It’s actions like Sebastian’s that serve as an inspiration to all of us and remind us about the kindness of the human spirit,” said Celena Roldán, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois.
Additional honorees were selected in 11 community service categories. Heroes were chosen by an independent committee of leaders in the business and civic community. For the complete list of 2019 Heroes, visit redcross.org/heroes.
The 2019 Heroes Breakfast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors including: Walgreens, ITW, Kirkland & Ellis, Northern Trust and United Airlines.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties, including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.