In a time of one’s life where they are supposed to feel undefeatable, kids with cancer experience the fragility of life. Go Gold Club at WHS, which meets every other Friday in room 42T, endeavors to spread awareness and create a community for these children, providing positivity in a variety of ways.
“It’s hard being sick and knowing there is no cure, so being a support system and knowing that you will be there for them is important,” said Go Gold Club treasurer Gloria Koo ‘27.
Go Gold Club intends to gain support in terms of finances; however, the first step is to educate about the issue. The basic principle is that knowledge will inspire community service and fundraisers, an experience Go Gold Club vice president Breanna Bieler ‘27 deeply relates to.
“I didn’t have a lot of interest before I heard about [childhood cancer], but once I did, I wanted to learn more about it,” said Bieler.
Go Gold Club works with a local organization, the Super Joey Foundation, in their common mission. The foundation was started by a family who lost their four–year–old son to Stage III Wilms Tumor, a cancer in the lymph nodes. Fundraisers at that time for his treatment helped start what would later become the Super Joey Foundation.
“I have been working with the [Super Joey] Foundation for almost eight years now,” said co–president Flora Yuan ’27. “If I was working for this foundation that helps children and their families battle childhood cancer, and I didn’t know [some information about childhood cancer]; then, [most] people wouldn’t know anything.”
The club has an upcoming community project to the local hospital with cancer patients, as well as a toy drive and meeting to make origami flowers for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
The actions of many members of Go Gold Club affect the morale of those they help. Just experiencing little moments of joy with these children can make a world of difference.
“There was this little kid who only spoke Spanish who was participating in this raffle,” said co-president Isabelle Zhen ‘27. “Multiple times he would be looking at his ticket, and he didn’t get called. He would sit back on the couch, but when he did get called he was so excited that he jumped up and got his gift card. After, he wanted to take a picture with all of us.”
