Cancer affects thousands of families each year, especially Blood cancer, but many people don’t understand how much fighting against cancer relies on community support. Some of our very own North students join this battle by participating in Blood Cancer United’s (BCU) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign. Formerly known as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, this campaign is a seven-week-long fundraiser. High school students nationwide raise funds and awareness for blood cancer then the teams compete to raise the most money. This includes exercising skills, including marketing and project management, which are learned throughout the program.
Addie Patton is a co-candidate for the team BC Dubs, along with Stella Shirah. As sophomores, they are working on managing a group of peers striving to raise $80,000 towards their cause. As a team, they are working to advocate for patients and research. But being on a team means something. “It means having compassion and a connection to the cause that drives us as a collective to work hard every day,” Patton said.
Another sophomore, Zoe Piernik, has a different job for this fundraiser. This is her second year in Blood Cancer United, and she is a junior leadership committee member. She explains how her job, and others’ jobs, of raising money can make such a large difference for those impacted by cancer. “It gives them hope that there will be a cure for their loved ones in the future,” she said.
In addition to these two, Alex Chalk, a current senior, has a significant part in BCU. It is his fourth year in the program, and this year, he is the junior leadership committee chair. This means he mentors teams that are responsible for fundraising in addition to fundraising himself. So far, he has raised $390,000 towards Blood Cancer United in all three years, and he is determined to reach 400k by the end of this year. He has strong personal ties to the cause and has seen the fruits of the program flourish. “I think it brings people together, because you don’t realize how many people cancer affects until you do something like this,” Chalk said.
Whether you are in your first year with Blood Cancer United or you are in your fourth, no role in this society that is not helping fight this disease. The many campaign teams that are a part of North are making all the difference in changing the world as we know it.
