Local Club Helps Fight Against Cancer

Can you provide a bit of history about your organization?

Students Against Cancer is a club that is dedicated to raising money as well as awareness for the American Cancer Society. Our ultimate goal is to organize the Relay for Life to join together our community to celebrate the survivors, remember those we lost, and to encourage those who are still fighting. This club started a few years ago by Grace Tortorella and has been raising thousands of dollars each year for the American Cancer Society.

How long have you been with this organization?

I have been a part of Students Against Cancer since my freshman year at the high school. These past four years I have been involved in various events from bake sales, running a Relay for Life, and ensuring that our community is as involved as possible. In prior years, I was the Fundraising Co-Chair and recently this year I am President of the club.

What drew you to be part of this group?

Students Against Cancer is very personal to me as my mom tragically lost her fight to cancer in 2018. My mom had cancer for 16 years and was in a constant battle for her life everyday. All of my life, I have been involved in bringing awareness to cancer, whether it was with my family and friends or through school organizations. My mom inspired me to continue her fight well after she passed away. Regardless if you have a personal connection to cancer or not, cancer impacts everyone. It affects the patient, the family, friends, and in most cases the community. Working hand-in-hand with the American Cancer Society allows for our club to feel like we are connected and involved in something much larger than a school club, it allows us to truly make a difference.

What types of tasks do you perform?

Our club is involved in various activities within Chatham High School, such as bake sales, partnering with restaurants for fundraisers, and we have recently extended our club to begin raising money for rare cancers through Memorial Sloan Kettering.

How can the community help your efforts?

We are always looking for ways for the community to be involved, holding fundraisers within the town or the surrounding towns offers a way for parents, siblings, and just anyone to contribute what they can to a good cause.

How can someone get involved or join?

If you want to get involved or join you should register to join the Relay for Life of Morris County. Chatham does not have their own Relay but there is a larger one that allows for more members of the community to become involved in. The Relay for Life is on May 6th, 2023 at Parsippany Hills High School. If you or anyone you know has been personally affected by cancer, register, make a team, and join other members of your community in helping to raise awareness.