Cancer Kids First is the largest youth-led international nonprofit organization that supports pediatric cancer patients, and its Lexington High School chapter is one of the organization’s many branches. The club meets during Day Five I Blocks, where members create cards, make care packages, and organize donations such as toys and medical equipment for patients.
“A lot of clubs at LHS focus on allowing students to explore their passions, like sports and arts, or are a way for people to spend time together over a shared interest,” Anusha Malhotra, a junior and leader of the Cancer Kids First club, said. “When I was thinking of what club to create, I wanted to do something that would actually allow students to contribute to a cause that they were passionate about and give back to the community. [It’s] such an important and rewarding thing to be able to have the power to do at such a young age.”
Beyond in-school meetings, members of the Cancer Kids First club work to spread cancer awareness and create events, such as bake sales, to include the broader LHS community in their mission to normalize hospital environments and build a supportive atmosphere for pediatric cancer patients.
One event the club launched this year was the Cancer Awareness Series, where students wrote articles and posts on social media detailing their experiences with cancer and prevention techniques. Another donation event organized by the club was the Comfort Kit Project, where members collected over 50 toys. Club members also have online and in-person meetings with pediatric cancer patients to play games and bring them gifts. With these events, the club aims to reach a more general public and raise awareness of cancer.
“Our club is very inclusive, and we appreciate all the help we can get from LHS students, which is why all of our events are open for all of LHS to participate in,” Malhotra explained.
Of the successes she has seen, Malhotra is most proud of how her club members have taken initiative through various activities.
“We teach our students that every person and every action counts and contributes. Whether you are just making a card or you’re talking to a patient in the hospital, everything [helps] lead to a better day and better life for these patients who go through unbearable treatment and who are less fortunate,” Malhotra said.
In the future, the club hopes to partner with more hospitals so club members gain more experience with in-person patient interaction, collaborate with other chapters of Cancer Kids First, and hold guest speaker events, inviting cancer survivors or oncologists to speak about cancer.
“It is our goal to take matters into our own hands … and bring light to [pediatric cancer patients’] lives,” Malhotra concluded.
