Fourteen-year-old Reed Heller is among hundreds of Valley teenagers who are organizing the Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research (SSBTR) Walkathon to be held Pinnacle High School on Feb. 23.
SSBTR was founded in 2002 after three students in the Paradise Valley Unified School District died from brain tumors. To date, the charitable organization, run by student volunteers with adult assistance, has raised more than $600,000 for brain cancer research.
Reed, who attends New Way Learning Academy, has been corresponding with me since November about the walkathon.
“I got involved with this organization because we lost a teenage family friend to a brain tumor,'' Reed wrote. “Because this is a student run organization, SSBTR is trying to get as many schools involved in Arizona as possible. In addition to raising money for a very worthwhile cause, students are being taught the importance of philanthropy.''
In January, 6-year-old Cheyanne Chantry of Tonopah captured the hearts of many when news media covered her plight with an inoperable brain tumor. She died Jan. 17 at home in her mom's arms.
Members of SSBTR have a collective interest in curing brain tumors, They are the leading cause of cancer deaths for children through high school age aside from leukemia.
Reed is working hard to drum up support among people of all ages to join the walk-a-thon from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at Pinnacle High. 3535 E. Mayo Blvd. It is just west of the Loop 101 freeway and Tatum Boulevard. Students from elementary school through college and from throughout the Valley are expected to participate.
He notes that 95 percent of the money raised will go directly to brain tumor research. The proceeds from the 2008 SSBTR Walkathon will be distributed to The Brain Tumor Society, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital and TGen.
To make a donation, sign up for the walkathon or to learn more about Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research, go to ssbtr.org or call 1-800-770-8287, ext. 23.
Lori Baker is mom to two daughters, 21 and 23 years old. She is
editor for the Valley and State section's Education and Environment pages in the Arizona Republic.
