CINCINNATI, Ohio – Each year, high school students across the city of Cincinnati join forces for an overnight event to raise money for CancerFree Kids.
This year a team of 10 Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School students were among the group, representing Deer Park as team “Wildcats” at the University of Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena for the 12-hour event, which is sponsored by the TQL Foundation and includes more than 1,500 local students.
Senior Alyvia Hedges has participated in Night for the Fight for four years and said it is a lot of fun meeting new people from all over Cincinnati, but also getting to hang out with her team for 12 hours.
“I first participated in Night for the Fight when I was a freshman with my cousin Kaylah from Mount Notre Dame,” Hedges said. “Ever since then, I've been participating in the event because listening to those families tell their stories on how cancer affected their lives is heartbreaking, so I wanted to help in any way I could.”
This year, the Wildcats team raised $2,667 through bake sales and fundraisers at local businesses. The team then spends the evening participating in activities and hearing stories from local cancer survivors and families who have lost children to cancer.
“The most moving and interesting part of the event is definitely the Reflection Time,” Hedges said. This is when everyone joins together and remembers those who have lost the battle to cancer and we also honor those who are still fighting cancer.”
This year, more than 1,500 students raised a total of $330,220 to help CancerFree Kids.
The Wildcats team was made up of Alyvia hedges, Bailey Walker, Hallie Young, Bre Hill, Maddy Drennan, Abby Mapes, Audrey Brewster, Josette Fischer, Kierstyn Cordrey, and Lindsey Jaworek.
More information about Night for the Fight and CancerFree Kids can be found at https://cancerfreekids.org/.