Students pictured with Congressman Robert Dold and Alison Sierens; photo by Nancy Blankstein.
GLENCOE -The mother of a cancer survivor wanted to show her thanks by starting a service board enlisting high school students to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Students from New Trier and Loyola High Schools and North Shore Country Day School assembled on August 12 for a Find a Cure Service Board meeting. Alison Sierens founded the board in honor of her 11-year-old daughter Kendall.
“It’s a way for me and my other daughters to give back and we are so excited to have so many other high school kids committed to doing this with us,” said Sierens.
Kendall was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia when she was two years old. As cited by the National Cancer Institute, childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
After undergoing chemotherapy, spinal taps, and many steroids, Kendall has been leading an active lifestyle. “Kendall is doing great,” her mom said. “She couldn’t be here tonight because she’s playing in a soccer game.”
At the meeting, Rep. Robert Dold (IL-10), a New Trier alumnus, spoke about his role in helping to pass the 21st Century Cures Act in the House, and how it will update the clinical trial process and provide more funds to the National Institutes of Health so that cancer patients can receive the best treatments possible. The Cures Act still needs to go through the senate.
From left, Kendall, sister Payton, and Mom Alison. Photo courtesy of Robert Sierens
Sierens met Rep. Dold in Washington, D.C., where she volunteers for the Advocacy Committee and lobbies for patient healthcare. She also volunteers for the LLS Light the Night Walk in Glenview. She created the Find a Cure Board through the Student Series Arm of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Sierens lives in Glencoe with her husband Robert and their four girls: Ryan 16, Jaime 14, Kendall 11, and Payton 7. Robert served on the board of the Illinois chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for six years until his term recently ended.
Find a Cure will hold two fundraisers in the fall, and two more in the spring. The first event will be a car wash from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 12 at the Takiff Center, 999 Green Bay Road, Glencoe. “We will likely have a minimum donation of $15 per car,” said Sierens.
“We’re hoping to attract kids from any North Shore high school. These kids will have a chance to make a difference, creatively fund raise, and gain valuable leadership experience,” said Sierens.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities at Find a Cure contact Andi Cannata at andi.cannata@lls.org or Alison Sierens at r.sierens@comcast.net.