Although Blood Cancer Awareness Month was in September, senior Abby Beck has not forgotten the importance of fighting for a cure. As a student visionary for the national organization Blood Cancer United, she can positively impact cancer families year round.
“Something I love about the organization so much is that they carry the passion throughout the whole year and never just the month so yes, we do extra things during it but nothing extremely out of the ordinary,” said Beck.
After losing a loved one to cancer, Beck decided to join the student visionaries program to fulfill the urge to help people battling the same disease.
“After losing one of my best friends to cancer, It completely changed my morals and views on the world. It reminded me how fragile life is, how nothing is permanent.”
Every year, Beck comes together with a team of fellow students and competes with student visionaries around the country to raise 15,000 dollars with a five month planning period. After successfully raising the money, Beck attends a gala to celebrate helping cancer families with the financial burden of cancer.
“We help cover the cost of some medical insurance that’s not covered. So basically we have money, and it’s a whole process, if you get approved, we basically can give you money towards your medical records, or, like, towards all your medical issues,” said Beck.
Throughout her high school career, Beck has worked her way up.
“I was a team member my sophomore year, my junior year, I made my own team, and then my senior year, so right now, I actually got nominated to be on the a chair on the board, so basically I run the whole student visionary program,'” said Beck. “Meaning I mentor a bunch of different teams.”
Though being a student visionary is overall rewarding, Beck feels the process of actually raising the money can be stressful; with only five weeks for to raise thousands of dollars, it can sometimes be a frenzy to reach the goal within the allotted time period.
“The whole campaign is seven weeks, but you need your gala money within five. This makes it pretty emotionally straining because its hard to ask people for money. I have such a bad issue with asking people for money so its pretty difficult,” said Beck.
Not only is the amount of work Beck has to put in to raise money taxing, watching the detrimental effects the disease has been crushing.
Cancer is a degrading, violent illness that we break people down and it’s not something you can just avoid,” said Beck. “I saw it personally with my friend, abilities, going from a happy, active kid to not being able to communicate or move. We see these effects and know what to change.”
Despite the hardships that come with being a student visionary, Beck would not change her job for the world, and is planning to continue being a part of the program throughout her senior year.
As many as sad aspects there are knowing that you’re changing that is life changing,” said Beck. “It’s difficult, but then you also have to realize, like, what you’re working for, and I’ve seen the effects of what we do; the amount of effort, effect, and people you meet you see the real world changes.”
