Every day, people’s lives are being changed by three simple words, “You have cancer.” Every day people go from being at the happiest and healthiest state of mind and body to learning that in their blood runs a deadly disease that is destroying their cells and slowly turning their body against them. Our names are Nyari Muchaka and Iman Malhi.

Nyari: When I turned 10, my mother informed me that my grandfather, her father who had never smoked and was not an alcoholic, had liver cancer. As a child, I never truly understood what this meant. All I gathered was that he was sick with something worse than a common cold, but would eventually get better. Unfortunately, this was not the case. My grandfather’s condition worsened until eventually, he passed away. 

Iman: In April of 2011,  my Uncle Tony was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. When I found this out, I was only 8, but I was devastated. I wanted to do everything in my power to help him kick cancers butt, so that same month, my mom and I reached out to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help us figure out what we could do to help him. I ended up over the course of a month, raising as much money as I could to help him. Not only did I raise money, but I also donated 12 inches of my hair. On his birthday I decided to surprise him by showing him that I raised $2,000 and donated my hair to raise awareness for Multiple Myeloma. When he found out, it made me feel the best I have ever felt and I will never forget how proud he was of me for everything I had done, but in July of 2012, he passed away. 

Patients fight to survive in different ways, but the single common factor between these stories is that they are all stories of pain. Pain from the treatments, pain from the disease breaking down their bodies, and pain from no longer being able to live their fullest and best life. Consequently, there are those like my grandfather, who despite fighting tooth and nail are unable to overcome the disease. The only way to eliminate this pain and give everyone afflicted by the disease and healthier life is to find a cure. On February 12th, we will be joining to fight to find a cure for cancer, and I hope you’ll be willing to join us. Our personal goal is to raise over $50,000 and we personally will not only be donating in honor of our uncle and grandfather but in honor of all cancer patients as we believe that in order to win the fight, we must all work together.