In case you haven’t heard about the Cancer Smashers, you must continue reading and get to know this fantastic group of young people banning together to raise money to eradicate cancer. Let me begin by telling you who they are and what they’re all about. Then we’ll get into all the cool things that they do to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
For starters, Cancer Smashers is a unique group of kids ranging in age from 10 years old to 19 years old who joined forces in 2011 to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Their goal is to help promote the H Foundation, an all-volunteer group founded by businesspeople in the western suburbs of Chicago that decided they could make a difference in the fight against cancer, and the Goombay Bash, an annual cancer fundraiser held in downtown Chicago. Money raised by the Cancer Smashers and the H Foundation goes directly to cancer research and funds work being done at Northwestern University’s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Cancer Smashers help out by doing a variety of activities from assisting at events to building floats for parades or simply by being a support system to someone who is diagnosed with cancer. Most recently, the Cancer Smashers came to the Woodruff Lab at Northwestern University to spend one-day learning about scientific research through lab exercises, such as extracting DNA from strawberries and also making alginate beads. Founder and Chair of Cancer Smashers, Beth Tischler, thought it was important for the kids to see exactly where the money they raise is going to, by visiting the Woodruff Lab and participating in some of the work the researchers do. Nadia Reynolds and Cathryn Smeyers, members of the Woodruff Lab and organizers of the Oncofertility Saturday Academy (OSA), participated in the event explaining, “The kids were really enthusiastic and excited to be a part of the research that’s being done here at Northwestern.”
What’s up next for the Cancer Smashers? For the week of January 23-27, the school’s Student Council will be selling paper “fists” for only $1.00. The buyer of the fist will personalize it by writing the name of a person who has been affected by cancer that they would like to honor. The fist will then be displayed on the walls of the school of their choice. The school district that sells the most fists is the winner!! To learn more about the Cancer Smashers and watch some videos about them, go to www.cancersmashers.com. You can also see them in action this Friday on CBS 2 news. Make sure you check it out!