Local Students Join in Cancer Fight

Students from Ventura County, along with those from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo, will gather spare change from their families and neighbors to help those affected by leukemia and other blood-related cancers.

The money collected will benefit the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which serves more than 400 people in four counties, including 31 in Ventura County. The chapter is preparing for its penny-gathering event, which is set to run Jan. 29 through March 9.

In Ventura County, students from Happy Ventures Preschool, Mound Elementary School and Sacred Heart School, all in Ventura, took part in the most recent fund-raiser by gathering pennies and participating in other activities. Society officials hope additional schools will sign on.

In its 10th year, the fund-raising campaign includes students who will hop for two minutes to raise donor pledges, and “Pennies for Patients,” where youngsters gather spare change to help children and adult leukemia patients. Another fund-raiser, “Pasta for Pennies,” is sponsored by Olive Garden restaurants.

All three fund-raising efforts help support the society’s goal of finding cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improving the quality of life for patients and their families, said Shani Grafman, the society’s campaign director.

The society also provides up to $750 per patient to cover items not covered by health insurance, such as cab fare to and from medical appointments.

“Leukemia takes the lives of more children under 15 than any other disease,” Grafman said, adding that estimates suggest leukemia and related cancers will strike more than 100,000 American children and adults this year.

For more information, call the society at (310) 348-5721.