Diagnosed with aggressive cancer, 15-year-old raises $620K for other patients in just 7 weeks
A teen who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in 2022 decided to make a marvelous impact through his journey. So much so that he managed to collect $620,000 for other cancer patients with his sister's help in seven weeks. Now 18 years old, Cedar Connell was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a form of blood cancer, when he was just 15. Everything came to a halt in his life because of the treatments, per his website. But he was determined to do his best even in the more dire situation.
Connell shared that he could do nothing out of school, tennis practice, travel and socializing after being diagnosed in March 2022. So later on, he captained the team "ConneLLS for a cure," along with his sister Posey, and ended up winning the nationals for Leukemia and Lymphoma Student Visionaries of the Year. They managed to raise around $620,000 in seven weeks through the program. Connell finished his treatment for cancer this July at 19 years old, per ConneLLSforacure.com. He is said to be in remission mostly because of the new and advanced treatments developed with the help of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. So the family decided to pay it forward to the organization through their work.
The siblings' aim was to raise funds to find a cure for blood cancer and improve the quality of life for patients, their caregivers, and families. "We wanted to give back to the organization that made my brother's recovery possible," Posey expressed. "My chemotherapy came with so many terrible side effects and we hope our fundraising efforts will lead to safer and more effective treatments for future patients. I'm so humbled to pay it forward," Connell pointed out.
The Connell Team also started the 3 for 31 program to pay it forward, according to their website. The team encouraged people to exercise 3 miles a day for 31 days in July to raise awareness for blood cancer patients and research. People could choose any of their preferred modes of exercise, including walking, biking, swimming, climbing, rowing, water skiing and more. They were supposed to share their progress on all 31 days, and the team would donate $31 on their behalf at the end to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It all started when Connell asked for a stationary bike in his hospital room in 2022, so he could exercise as much as his body permitted and prevent muscle atrophy.
The nurses fulfilled his request and he would exercise anywhere between two to thirty minutes, depending on how he was feeling that day. As the treatments were eased, he could do more and more exercise each day. Connell wanted to pay it forward to other patients by spreading awareness as he neared the end of his treatment, so he decided to start the 3 for 31 program. He also designed exercise clothes and all proceeds from any purchase would go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society towards find a cure for cancer. Connell remarked, "While I am not exercising in a hospital room anymore, I am not only trying to raise awareness but also spread hope."