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Kids Conquering Cancer

Kid Power!

Students raise thousands for Relay for Life
of West Bloomfield.

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Robin Schwartz | Special to the Jewish News

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Courtesy Relay For Life West Bloomfield

veryone has the power
to make a positive dif-
ference, even a child.
Countless Metro Detroit stu-
dents of all ages serve as shining
examples, using their passion
and creativity to raise significant
funds and participate in Relay
for Life of West Bloomfield.
Michigan’s largest commu-
nity relay, which benefits the
Alec Cohen
American Cancer Society, takes Bryce Toby
place Saturday, June 11, on the
track at West Bloomfield High
part in the event he started.
School. The group “Kids Conquering
“I think it’s very cool to see how many
Cancer” will be among more than 50 fund- kids participate,” he says. “Every person
raising teams and 2,000 participants at the has the ability to make a difference — you
24-hour event.
just have to try. And that’s what I hope kids
“I think it’s my proudest accomplish-
go out and do.”
ment,” says Rachel Hollander, 22, of West
One of the area’s youngest relay fund-
Bloomfield about her decision to start
raisers is Bryce Toby, 7, of Auburn Hills.
Kids Conquering Cancer. She launched
He started raising money for “Team
the group in 2007 as a bat mitzvah project
Esther” when he was just 4 years old. He
at a time when a 6-year-old friend, Haley
has lost loved ones to cancer, including
Nathan, had been diagnosed with a malig- his great-aunt Esther Olson, for whom the
nant tumor. Sadly, Haley died several years team is named.
later after a brave battle with cancer. The
“When you donate, it’s fine if it’s a penny.
the group continued in her memory.
It can be a quarter, a dollar or anything,” he
Rachel is now a senior at the University
explains. “We’re raising money so we can
of Michigan with plans to pursue a medical have people not die.”
degree and become a pediatric oncologist.
Bryce is a student at Walton Charter
This year will mark her student-led team’s
Academy in Pontiac. He has led his
10th and final relay. They expect their total school’s fundraising efforts for the past sev-
fundraising efforts to exceed $100,000.
eral years and helped raise $1,600 to date.
“[Founding the team] gave me a way
He started with a simple coin can, collect-
to be a leader and a way to see how many
ing loose change in preschool.
people care,” Hollander says. “What this
“I am personally inspired by the incred-
taught me was the power of kids, which
ible passion of Alec, Rachel and Bryce,”
was the ultimate goal of the team; but I
says Michelle Silber, event lead for Relay
didn’t truly know what we could accom-
for Life of West Bloomfield. “We are so
plish. We created something that has had a grateful for their efforts and the hard work
lasting impact.”
of all of our survivors, donors, vendors,
O.E. Dunckel Middle School in
sponsors and volunteers.
Farmington Hills has its own relay tradi-
“The money we raise is helping support
tion. Alec Cohen, 17, of West Bloomfield
important services for local cancer patients
started the annual event in 2013 after his
and helping fund life-saving research.”
grandfather Bob Cohen died from
brain cancer. Students pay $35 to par-
ticipate in an opening ceremony with
To learn more about Relay for Life of
inspiring speakers and a walk around
West Bloomfield, to participate, volun-
the school track. In four years, the school
teer or make a donation, visit: www.
has raised $20,000. Alec is now in high
relayforlife.org/westbloomfieldmi.
school, but he returns every year to take

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16 June 9 • 2016