29-01-2025
Cancer fundraising event continues at GV
Jan. 29—ORWELL — Raising money to fight pediatric cancer was the focus of a Tuesday assembly at Grand Valley High School.
Dan Kingsley, a childhood cancer survivor and cancer researcher at Case Western Reserve University, shared his story of being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 12.
Kingsley said he had trouble completing a mile to mile and a half bike ride, and was having trouble keeping down food. His mother was a nurse and knew something was wrong, he said.
After his cancer diagnosis, he started on chemotherapy and spent most of his seventh grade year being tutored because he could not come to school 90% of the time.
"At the time I didn't know what cancer was, just that it was a scary word," he said.
Kingsley said the experience led him to become a scientist and researcher, seeking to help find new treatments for cancer. He said he was encouraged by many doctors and nurses along the way.
Kingsley said he is grateful for the research that was done decades before his diagnosis. He said chemotherapy was developed in the 1940s and radiation in the early 1900s.
"To this day, our first line of defense against cancer is chemotherapy, radiation or surgery," Kingsley said. He said his work seeks to find new, less toxic treatments to fight the disease in children.
Kingsley had chemotherapy for three and a half years, and will likely have long-term health impacts.
Kingsley was brought in to speak as part of an annual fundraising program at the school.
Grand Valley High School sophomores Jocelyn Cozad and Violet Morse started the fundraiser when they were in third grade, and have helped raise $27,000 in the last seven years.
Cooperation with the Pymatuning Valley Local Schools has assisted in raising money.
The two girls explained their interest and helped prepare for the program, which included the high school and junior high students. Elementary school students heard from Kingsley during a separate presentation.
Students donate pennies and larger amounts to fight pediatric cancer. Students also reach out to area businesses to help in the process.
Anyone interested in donating to the project can go to the Children's Cancer Research page under Roberta Cozad. During the last three years, the program has honored Grand Valley students who battle cancer.
A Penny Wars program between Pymatuning Valley and Grand Valley is a focal point of the campaign this year, with each school trying to raise the most money.
Grand Valley Local Schools Curriculum Coordinator Roberta Cozad said the district is working with younger students to continue the tradition of her daughter, Joceyln, and Morse, who started the program to honor a school nurse who was battling cancer at the time.
