NEW PALESTINE — A New Palestine High School student was inspired by her late cheerleading mentor to start a campaign that raises funds and awareness for fighting cancer.
Grace Twyford, 17, is campaigning for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Indiana chapter’s Student of the Year.
A family friend and mentor to Twyford — 2008 New Palestine High School graduate Liza Angelicchio — died from leukemia in 2016.
“Ever since then, I was trying to find something to do in her honor and no matter what I thought of, it never really seemed like enough,” Twyford said.
Then she came across the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student of the Year program.
“I thought it seemed like the perfect thing to do,” Twyford said, adding she admires the organization for the way it raises funds and awareness for the blood and bone marrow cancers.
Twyford’s mother baby-sat Angelicchio when she was younger. Angelicchio went on to be a cheerleader at New Palestine High School. When Twyford got into cheerleading and met Angelicchio at a cheer clinic, there was an instant connection.
Their friendship grew from there, Twyford continued, adding Angelicchio fostered her love for cheerleading. Twyford followed in Angelicchio’s cheerleading footsteps all though high school and next fall will even start at the college Angelicchio attended — Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky.
“When she was battling leukemia, she always had the most positive attitude,” Twyford said.
Just days before Angelicchio died, she was toting her oxygen tank through the cheer gym she worked at, ready to lead practice, Twyford recalled.
Twyford’s campaign has organized several fundraisers. She and her cohorts recently raffled off a basketball, sold orange beads and set out to fill donation buckets in memory of the late Brody Stephens, a Sugar Creek Elementary School student who lost his battle to cancer two years ago.
Fundraising events continue through next month. Dine-to-donate events will be 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 at Dairy Queen, 25 S. German Church Road, Cumberland; and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 11 at Round the Corner Grill, 19 S. Bittner Road, New Palestine. Diners who mention Twyford will have their tabs donated to her campaign.
Donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can be made through Twyford’s Student of the Year campaign at events.lls.org/in/indianasoy19/gtwyford.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Dine to donate for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as part of Grace Twyford’s Student of the Year campaign.
6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 at Dairy Queen, 25 S. German Church Road, Cumberland
7 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 11 at Round the Corner Grill, 19 S. Bittner Road, New Palestine
Diners who mention New Palestine High School senior Grace Twyford will have their tabs donated to her Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Indiana chapter Student of the Year Campaign.
Contributions can also be made at events.lls.org/in/indianasoy19/gtwyford.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
