OUR ORIGIN

As a child, I have always been passionate about helping cancer patients. This started when I had a personal experience. Growing up, my grandma had bone cancer, my grandpa had rectal cancer, and my grandpa from my dad’s side had lung cancer and colon cancer. Being alongside them in their journey made me realize how much cancer patients and their family have to go through. I remember being a little kid and looking up to my grandma for fighting every day of her life. She never gave up and I always saw her bravery through a smile on her face. When my grandma was sick, I always tried to think of a way to help her. As a family, we sang songs and prayed with her, but I knew deep down that it was her battle. Now that I am older, my heart goes out to all cancer patients and their family. I want to use the resources that I am so fortunate to be provided with to raise funds and awareness for cancer. 

In 2016, I skated in an Evening with Champions. “An Evening with Champions is a public charity non-profit committee dedicated to fighting cancer by raising money for The Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.” They host an annual world class figure skating show. After skating in this exhibition and learning about this committee, I was even more motivated and passionate about helping cancer patients. Later in 2016, I donated 13 inches of my hair to Locks of love. I remember when I told my parents that I wanted to cut my hair, they were pleasantly surprised. Growing up as a kid, I had never let my parents bring me to the hair salon, I was very protective over my hair and felt that it was one of my prized features. Locks of Love is an organization with the intention to make wigs for children in need due to medical conditions that have caused them to permanently lose their hair. I have also raised donations for Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer, a program dedicated to “turn cancer upside down.” I hope to continue raising awareness and money for cancer with my new resources. 

Thank you for learning more about the origin of Sunrise Hope and thank you for supporting!