Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2017, Page 21

Description:	IIITS NOT A RACE TO RAISE MONEY,ITS A RACE TO FIND A CUREstory by: Paige OsborneNot everyone knows the struggle of waking up in themorning, hoping for someone to live another day longer. Or evenhaving the thought of trying to fight for your own life throughsome bully disease everyone knows about.Cancer. Thats what it is. Meet Lillian McAfee, who sharesher story on how cancer affected her life and family.As the crowd rolled into the gymnasium on Sept. 2, 2016 forthe annual HOC pep rally, everyone was touched by Lilliansstory.We knew something was wrong, she explained. Thesurgeons told us that my uncle had brain cancer, and the tumorwas the size of a baseball.Voices suddenly became silent, and the phones andconversations became a blur.Most people who dont know anyone with cancer dont thinkabout it; its vague and irrelevant, she said. But everyone willknow someone someday that has cancer. It could be a friend, aclassmate, or even you, your mom, or your dad. And at that pointit becomes very real, and very relevant.McAfees voice became unsteady. I wanted to talk to youabout my uncles story not only because he was the first person Iknew who had this disease, but because he was very special tome, she said. And this had a huge impact on me at the age offive. Not only did he have a huge impact on myself, but he had ahuge impact in a positive way on everyone that I knew.The annual HOC pep rally brings fun andlaughter on September 2nd, 2016. Team Northsvery own cancer dancers dance a charminglychoreographed routine to the song Break YourHeart by Taio Cruiz, sung by Cameron Richardsonand Brandon Hunt.Dancing out there made me feel proudbecause I knew that I was making a positive impacton other peoples lives, sophomore Matthias Ortizsaid. People may think that it would beembarrassing, but since youre doing it to helpothers, you dont feel that sense of embarrassment at
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/8371
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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