Heroes for Hope walks for a cure

By McKenna Beery
Staff Writer

Someone who is the common perception of a hero today fights in a war or puts out fires, although people who dedicate their time to a charitable cause can be just as potentially heroic.

Costa’s Heroes for Hope raises money for Jonathon Jacques’ Children’s Cancer Center, a hospital that specializes in treating and taking care of children who are battling cancer. JJCCC held its annual Torch Run on June 8 in Long Beach at 10 a.m.

“The club is open to anyone who wants to join,” co-President sophomore Kelly Geiser said. “This club offers people a great oppurtunity to help raise money for JJCCC. The Torch Run is an annual activity that the club partcipates at the end of the year.”

Heroes for Hope Club took on the responsibility of sponsoring six-month-old Bela Perez, a JJCCC patient who was diagnosed with cancer at three weeks old.

“I’m very happy and honored to have been able to participate in Jonathan Jacques Torch Run,” sophomore Jordan Cohn said. “This was a really great experience because it united people under one cause.”

During the race, cancer patients and cancer survivors walked one-eighth of a mile while holding a torch. The participant passed on the torch to the next person as a symbol of hope. After the race, the Heroes for Hope Club put on a children’s carnival to celebrate the activities that took place that day.

“I was really impressed by all the kids that were there fighting for a cause,” sophomore Alexa Petri said. “Seeing all those kids was really inspiring, and it made me want to work harder for the cause.”

The Torch Run is an annual event that brings cancer patients and survivors together to raise money for JJCCC through private donations and fundraisers.

“The run was super fun,” sophomore Gillian Henry said. “It was cool to see all the people that have had cancer and all the support they got. It was a moving experience to see how many kids had to fight cancer at such a young age.”

Heroes for Hope Club managed to raise $2,400 for six-month-old Bela Perez. This money will help support Perez’s recovery.

“My sister was diagnosed with cancer, and the JJCCC was where she was treated,” sophomore club co-President Rachel Waxman said. “Ever since I have wanted to do anything I can and be involved to give back to the cancer center that gave my family and me so much.”