Way to Go! Roslyn duo named Shining Stars for Crohn's, colitis fundraiser
Jesse Kahn, left, and Coby Kashetsky, both students at Roslyn High School, were honored last month as Shining Stars by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Long Island Chapter. Credit: Russell Lippai
Two Roslyn students have been named "Shining Stars" for their efforts brightening the lives of individuals affected by digestive diseases.
Jesse Kahn and Coby Kashetsky, both sophomores at Roslyn High School, have helped raise more than $32,000 during the past four years to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation’s Long Island Chapter.
The duo, who were both diagnosed with Crohn's disease when they were 10, raised the funds through their team's participation in the nonprofit's Gold Coast Take Steps walk at North Hempstead Beach Park. Their team, the Roslyn Bulldogs, raised more than $15,492 this year through pledges from family and friends.
"It is always such a great day when our friends and family come out to support the cause," said Kashetsky, whose father, Glen, also has the disease. "We throw a football around, bring our dogs, take lots of pictures and just have fun."
Last year, Kahn and Kashetsky’s team collectively raised more than $10,300 through the walk despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It was more challenging to organize our team because of the pandemic," Kahn said. "We could not walk as a large group, but that did not stop us. We were focused."
Kahn's other activities include working to create a club at his school focused on comforting children with autoimmune diseases; Kashetsky is a member of his school's junior varsity basketball team.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
