Joliet West freshman Mikey Vallejo, 14, (below) displays one of the ribbons he made for members of the Joliet West Tiger soccer team for a cancer support effort for a teammate's mother as seen at Joliet West High School Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, in Joliet. It's an example of participation in Character Month in the school district. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
Joliet West freshman Mikey Vallejo, 14, displays one of the ribbons he made for members of the Joliet West Tiger soccer team for a cancer support effort for a teammate's mother as seen at Joliet West High School Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, in Joliet. It's an example of participation in Character Month in the school district. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
Joliet West freshman Mikey Vallejo, 14, made ribbons for members of the Joliet West Tiger soccer team for a cancer support effort for a teammate's mother as seen at Joliet West High School Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, in Joliet. It's an example of participation in Character Month in the school district. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
Joliet West freshman Mikey Vallejo, 14, (below center) displays one of the ribbons he made for members of the Joliet West Tiger soccer team for a cancer support effort for a teammate's mother as seen at Joliet West High School Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, in Joliet. It's an example of participation in Character Month in the school district. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
JOLIET — Mikey Vallejo felt empathy as his friend and soccer teammate suffered a loss in his family earlier this month. Vallejo, a freshman at Joliet West High School, turned that empathy into action. He got two soccer teams to support the family of Ivan …
