Jasper Winterton
Feature/Video Editor
“I’ve really enjoyed the process so far. I’m really excited to be a part of this,” Arianna Peper, junior, said about her role in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Peper and Kela Ndoni, junior, were nominated to be a part of the Student Visionaries of the Year program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) to raise money for blood cancer research. Peper said they were nominated by Grant WIlliamson, a Webster University student, at the end of July during a phage biology camp that she and Ndoni had attended.
Ndoni said via email that she was “Participating in an internship at Webster University relating to scientific research when the professor’s student assistant approached me with the offer. I was nervous at first because I have had no experience campaigning, but the cause was very important to me and I wanted to use the opportunity to make a true difference in the world. I’m truly proud of myself and Arianna for all the hard work we have put into the campaign and I can’t wait to see our success.”
Both students went into the process of forming a team, Team Peperoni, after being nominated. Ndoni said, “Arianna and I have hand selected team members to help us plan events, raise funds and ask for sponsorships.”
According to the official website for LLS, the organization has invested more than $1.8 billion in ground breaking research since 1949, and there are more than 100,000 volunteer advocates within the program spread across the country.
The website says, “We are raising $175 million to support global, collaborative research and treatments for children’s blood cancers, the LLS PedAL Master Clinical Trial, as well as widening our range of free education, personalized support services, connection to financial assistance, and advocacy on behalf of all children and their families.”
Peper said that she “got nominated at the end of July and we started having our meetings in September. From there, we’ve been planning and going over a bunch of different parts of our campaign, writing our letters, creating our team, and making our fundraising pages.”
The organization’s official website says, ”Student Visionaries of the Year is a groundbreaking philanthropic leadership development program for high school students. Every year, courageous young leaders embark on an exciting seven-week journey with a goal to create a world without blood cancers, striving to earn the Student Visionary of the Year title.” This is the program that Ndoni and Peper are currently a part of.
The website also includes a variety of statistics relevant to the cause, stating that only 5% of cancer medications have been approved for the first time use in children, and approximately 80% of child cancer survivors develop chronic health issues from treatment.
“It’s something that I am so excited to be a part of, because it means a lot to me. I know how much of an impact cancer has on people so getting the opportunity to help fund new cures and new research for treatments really means a lot to me,” Peper said.
Ndoni and Peper said they planned a virtual run starting on Jan. 17, and they are planning on organizing a trivia with prizes. The virtual run is a 5k where people can register for $20 and buy a T-shirt for an additional $12. Peper said registrants can run wherever and whenever they want in support of blood cancer patients.
Team Peperoni’s website says, “Blood cancer is a devastating reality that affects countless lives every day. In the United States alone, it takes a life every nine minutes—that’s around 157 people every single day. These are not just numbers; they’re mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends. No one should have to endure the pain and heartbreak this disease brings.”
Jasper Winterton-Feature EditorThis will be Jasper Winterton’s first year on ECHO staff. He made several contributions while taking journalism class his freshman year. |
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