Student Visionaries is a student-led fundraising program that promotes blood cancer awareness through community campaigns, and as this year’s fundraising season continues, local students are continuing their efforts to raise awareness. Solon High School students are taking leadership roles by planning fundraisers, coordinating outreach and organizing events such as donation drives and school sales through the Student Visionaries program.
Since 1949, Student Visionaries has raised over $2 billion in advancement of treatment for blood cancer. Student Visionaries is a program designed to help students strengthen their leadership skills by participating in a seven-week (Jan 23-Mar 14) fundraising campaign supporting Blood Cancer United. Melissa Creamer, Solon High School Spanish teacher and Student Visionaries advisor, outlined how the program is organized.
“Each team consists of three candidates and then two team managers, so there are five people who are planning and organizing fundraisers that take place during this seven weeks,” Creamer said.
During the seven-week program, students plan and host fundraising events, communicate with donors, promote campaigns within their communities and track progress toward their fundraising goals.
Once candidates are chosen, students decide how their fundraising efforts will contribute to Blood Cancer United’s mission of fighting blood cancer. SHS sophomore Charvi Kora and her team selected an area to focus their fundraising efforts on at the beginning of the year.
“So there are three mission pillars in Student Visionaries: there’s research, advocacy and patient support,” Kora said. “Our team’s focus is research, so whatever money we raise goes directly toward the research that scientists are conducting toward blood cancer.”
Along with participating and raising money, students compete for various prizes. SHS sophomore Meenakshi Sai Srinidhi Sripada said the competitive structure keeps students motivated throughout the fundraiser.
“I feel like most students, especially high school students, like competition and the idea of having a competition is like ‘oh I wanna win,’” Sripada said.
Students also help contribute to scientists and their research into blood cancer.
“As we raise money, it is all going to the funds; for example, the equipment the scientists use and we can add more innovation,” Sripada said.
As fundraising continues, students organize a variety of events to reach fundraising goals and involve the school community.
“We did a fruit stand, and we sold ribbons and bracelets at lunch and [at our] donut sale,” Creamer said. “[Students] send out letters to family, friends, teachers and community members explaining who they are and the seven-week fundraising campaign.”
Kora said how her work could affect the future of cancer.
“I would like to say that [the idea] is realistic because there has been so much effort in providing resources, support and advocating for patients facing blood cancer, but I still think that there’s still more that needs to be done,” Kora said. “With more research, more advocacy we can see a world without blood cancer.”
To help Student Visionaries, you can donate on the Comets Crush Cancer Page.
