Finding a Cure One Penny at a Time

Noor Badri, Staff Writer

You might have seen the boxes scattered around from Key Club. Raising money for cancer research, Key Club’s “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser assists medical researchers helping kids battle Leukemia and Lymphoma.

By definition, Leukemia is a type of cancer that attacks blood cells and bone marrow. It stems from bone marrow and mutates the normal cell into a cancerous cell, which subdue the growth of normal cells. The rapid growth of leukemia cells differs for each type of leukemia.

Lymphoma, on the other hand, attacks the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system fights against germs in the body. Lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow are all parts of the lymphatic system.

The dangers that these cancers present to kids are serious and stress the importance of our contribution to their fight.

Key Club distributed boxes to receive donations from students. The researchers will use the money from your donations and other fundraisers towards equipment and patient care. The money also will go towards patient services and public education.

The class that raised the most money will win an Olive Garden party. The classes who fundraised at least $100 will win a free dress pass.

I spoke with some of the people who donated. They said their motivation behind giving money was “guilt”—the motivating kind.

Junior student, Titilope, said that after watching the video, she thought, “How could I not donate money?” She went on to say that the little kids in the introduction video made her feel regretful for not doing more to help.

To most donors, the prizes are lovely, but these are nothing compared to the donors’ feeling of knowing they’ve helped a child with cancer.