Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Nicolet student raises money 1 step at a time

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Will O'Toole is a sophomore at Nicolet High School who loves sports, but he's been sidelined for the last year with some pretty serious injuries. 

Through it all, his competitive spirit inspired him to use his own recovery to help others. 

"I'm a big sports guy," O'Toole said.

O'Toole is used to running, whether that's around the bases or on a soccer field. 

"That's actually how I got injured," he explained.

He's back on his feet now, but he spent the past year recovering from a broken leg and broken shoulder.

"I was laying in bed after my surgery on my shoulder and I decided I wanted to make an impact," he said.

And make an impact he did! Will raised $11,000 for Marquette University's Backpack Program. He delivered it with a big check and all. 

"It was a very great feeling. I felt very proud of myself, and I felt really good that I made an impact to the students at Marquette," he said.

The Backpack Program is a student food pantry. 

Arrupe Center for Community Service and Social Responsibility Assistant Director Christine Little said 20% of Marquette students are food insecure.

"The vast majority of our students are receiving some sort of financial assistance," she said.

So how did a 16-year-old recovering from surgery raise that kind of money? 

"I just walked," he said, simply. "You know, I walked for about two miles near my house."

He set the goal of walking a marathon.

"Once I realized my goal was one marathon, I realized I could actually crush that, so I ended up doing two marathons," he said.

All of those steps add up to a lot of food. 

He sent a fundraising site to family and friends. 

"They donate, they sent it to more people. Created a ripple effect and many more people donated," O'Toole explained.

Will's mom, Stacey Mitz, is proud of his accomplishment. 

"I'm just so pleased that he decided he would turn his summer into, he really took lemons and turned it into lemonade," she said.

It comes at the perfect time. Little says the Backpack Program has seen a big uptick in need. 

"I think it's really impressive and it gives me hope for the future to know that our high school students are thinking outside of themselves," Little said.

A lesson Will learned by overcoming his own challenge.

"People underestimate how much some people struggle, and you can always make a difference by just reaching out," O'Toole said.

In total, 125 people donated to O'Toole's fundraiser.

He has a few more months of physical therapy to complete, but he's hoping to get back on the soccer field in some capacity in the next month. 

For more information on the Backpack Program, click here. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].