Friends and family gather to remember Waukesha teen who lost his life during UTV accident
WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Friends and family of a stand-out lacrosse player at Waukesha West High School are grieving on a day that should've been cause for celebration. Today is Brady Caproon's 18th birthday, but an accident earlier this week took his life.
Friends tells us Brady Caproon was all about kindness. In his final selfless act, it's an honor walk at Children's Hospital in Madison tomorrow and they'll be there to support him and his family.
Brady Caproon's mom describes her son as a brick wall - protective and supportive. Friends saw that in him, too.
"During my lacrosse season when I was struggling like lacking motivation to really keep playing, he was always there for me and you know, this year I'm playing for him," said Celine Holm, Waukesha West HS Senior and a lacrosse player.
On Friday, Sept. 6, Waukesha West students, where Brady was a senior, showed up to school and to the football game wearing pink, his favorite color.
"It shot everyone like, I’m not one to cry, but I did cry a little bit," said DJ Leatherwood, Waukesha West HS Junior.
The varsity football team stood on the six-yard line in honor of Brady's number six on the lacrosse team as the national anthem played.
"Brady was the kindest student I've ever had. They're mourning and sad, but just remembering his positivity helps people get through," said Erika Groh, Waukesha West teacher.
Caproon started playing lacrosse in second grade. He made the varsity team his freshman year.
"He was the best goalie in high school my opinion. He saved a lot of my shots. It's been very hard especially the lacrosse team," said Ian Menzel, Waukesha West HS Senior.
Caproon was involved in a UTV accident in Fox Lake earlier this week, initially surviving. He was rushed to the hospital where family got to know just how special he is to a lot of people.
"When I visited him Monday before school started there was, I was there for two hours waiting to see him because so many people were there. It broke a lot of people's hearts to hear that he had passed away," said Ian Menzel, Waukesha West HS Senior.
Ian Menzel says Caproon was such a giving young man that he often would host food drives.
"It was called fill up the juke, he would post it on Instagram with the lacrosse team and people would show up for the food drive so," said Menzel.
There is now a GoFundMe page to help support his family.
"Brady was truly like a gift to this earth, he was so nice, he was always there for everyone," said Celine Holm.
The Caproon family has started a hashtag. It's B+ for Brady's blood type - they're asking people to "Be positive" and "Be Brady."