From joining the National Honor Society to fundraising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), junior Paige McCarthy has taken the initiative of educating and fundraising for those who have cancer.
After finding out about the LLS through junior Isabella Garcia, McCarthy made the decision to join an organization full of opportunities that would spread awareness and support families affected by cancer. As she continues her seven-week program with the LLS, McCarthy mentions her reason for fundraising, “I think it is very easy to spread the word about cancer research [since everyone is always on their phones]. Texting, emailing, and calling family members to see if they are willing to donate and posting on my social media allows me to help this organization with fundraising.”
While most decide to work with the LLS because their relatives have Leukemia or Lymphoma, McCarthy joined in despite not having relatives that have either cancers. “I have other [family members] that have gone through different stages of different types of cancer, so I still understand the toll that it can take on a person and the others that surround them,” she states.
As she continues to work for the LLS, she has many goals of her own that she would like to achieve: “My personal goal is to raise at least 3,000 dollars for LLS, but my team’s goal together is to raise 30,000 dollars.”
Throughout the fundraising process for LLS, McCarthy’s biggest support system has been her mom, who has shown unwavering support in many ways: from spreading the word to always being by her side when she needs help. “My mom, when she found out, immediately asked all the right questions and got very involved—without her, I wouldn’t be able to raise any money,” she expresses.
Beyond the support at home, McCarthy finds students at Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS) to be incredibly helpful in spreading awareness for LLS. Many of her friends also take the time to assist with the organization. “My friends are very supportive—they donate, ask more questions, and spread awareness, and I’m also incredibly grateful to them,” she shares.
As McCarthy continues her work with the organization, her most valuable piece of advice for those battling cancer is to “stay strong and lean on those around you because your closest friends and family are truly the strength of everything that you have,” she says. She emphasizes the importance of remembering that through all the pain you go through, you are never struggling by yourself and will always have people supporting you.
For McCarthy, fundraising and raising awareness for Leukemia and Lymphoma is a lifelong commitment. “I will continue to fundraise after high school or at any age because this is such an important cause, and spreading awareness should never stop,” she passionately ends off with, emphasizing that her work with the LLS in high school is just the beginning.
