On December 2, WBZ New Anchor Lisa Hughes and award-winning videographer Ralph Griswold came to Arlington High School to witness and film a very special event. On that morning the members of the AHS Cancer Kids First Chapter had transformed the Chorus Room into a workroom as they packed gifts for young people struggling with cancer. The patients, from all over the United States, had submitted wishlists through Cancer Kids First (CKF), an international youth-led nonprofit founded by current Harvard student Olivia Zhang.
The December event was coordinated by the AHS chapter, founded and headed by Senior Lucas Araujo. He became aware of the nonprofit when he saw an Instagram post of a similar event. The post really struck a chord with Lucas, who had cared for his stepfather prior to his death of cancer in November 2022. Becoming involved in the work of Cancer Kids First seemed like a great way to continue to fight the disease moving forward.
To get the CKF group going at AHS, he invited friends to be involved and started to spread the word by asking Community Service Coordinator Victoria Perez to list it in the newsletter, getting it included in school announcements, and posting on a CKF Instagram page. About 60 AHS students are now involved, and they are assisted by about 100 total volunteers that include members from surrounding towns. House Dean Robert DiLoreto serves as the group advisor. The five leaders–President Lucas Araujo, Treasurer Ethan Phan, Secretary Julio Kutrolli, Vice President Lorenzo Figueiredo, and Social Media Manager Nate Davison–meet twice a month to organize upcoming events.
The group contacted CKF-partner hospitals to make them aware of the Arlington event. In compliance with HIPAA laws, the CKF chapters cannot reach out to patients directly. The hospitals inform the patients and their families of the opportunity to participate, and they then make the connection.The AHS Chapter asked them to complete an interest form, and to discuss the details of the diagnosis and the kind of support they would like. Money for treatment, cards, toys, and other small gifts are often requested.The interest form includes the addresses and contact information, and when the Club plans a gift drive, they reach out to the patients to see if they wish to be included. Each is able to request specific gifts.
Cancer Kids First is largely supported by grants, and additional funds come from various events such as bake sales, movie nights,and restaurant partnerships. These are used to support the events such as the one held at AHS. Each of the nine staging tables had a list of patients and the gifts that should go into each box. The AHS students were joined by other volunteers, and together they packed and addressed 43 boxes which went locally as well as to states from coast-to-coast. Each volunteer received two hours of community service and an additional hour for every box shipped.
Lucas says the 2024 activity agenda is in process, and he expects it to include more gift basket events, a few partnered fundraisers with local restaurants, a dodgeball tournament, multiple bake sales, and more! He is grateful for the support of the community and volunteers who make it possible to support the cause.
Ms. Hughes and Mr. Griswold did an excellent job of interviewing and filming the CKF participants. The story appeared on the WBZ six o'clock news on December 7 and was also featured on the WSBK eight o'clock news. You may view the story delivered by Ms. Hughes, Harvard freshman continues to grow worldwide charity for kids with cancer she founded at 14, here. It includes interviews with Ms. Zhang, Lucas, and Mr. DiLoreto.
