When Kayla Lundgren found out her mom was diagnosed lymphoma, she knew she had to make a difference. Now, after losing her mom to lymphoma this past summer, Lundgren has been raising money for one of the most prominent non-profit cancer organizations in the world, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
With having collected $2,130 in a two-month span, Lundgren never expected to raise that much money from fundraising. Although her main goal was to raise awareness, it was nice for Lundgren to see all her hard work pay off at the Light the Night Walk Sept. 28, 2012 in Forest Park.
“The last time I did this walk it was with my mom,” Lundgren said. “So it was really nice to be able to remember that and have those memories.”
When Lundgren began fundraising, she did not know exactly how much money she could raise. In addition to promoting her fundraising, Lundgren made bracelets in memory of her mom to give to her close friends and family. She has also reached out to students to help her through her journey.
“I was really iffy about making it schoolwide and getting people to help because I didn’t know what the outcome would be,” Lundgren said. “But I’m so glad Kirkwood stepped up and helped donate to such an amazing cause.”
After asking STUCO to help raise money for the society, the representatives walked around KHS with yellow envelopes to collect money from people inside and outside of their classes during the week of Sept. 24, 2012.
“I was so happy Kayla came to STUCO because it meant we could help in some way,” Rachel Levine, senior and STUCO vice president, said. “It really made me wish I knew her and her mom better.”
With her peers, friends and family, Lundgren was able to remain open-minded through the entire journey. Lundgren also received a huge amount of encouragement, love and support from her best friend Alex Wind.
“It was great to see Kayla raising money, but I also really enjoyed being there for moral support,” Wind, senior, said. “She’s been through so much, and I loved helping her in any way that I could.”
After The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk last year, Lundgren was able to do the walk this year with both great company and great memories.
“After I did the walk, it was amazing to look back and see all the fundraising I did,” Lundgren said. “I have a lot of people to thank for everything.”
At the Light the Night Walk, Lundgren was able to support others who were not only going through the same thing as her, but also the people who were and are still suffering from cancer as well.
By remembering her mom and sharing the experience with her family, the night was well worth it for her.
“Of course because of what I’ve been through I am going to have a negative outlook on cancer from losing someone so important, my mom,” Lundgrensaid.“But in the end, it was completely worth it.”
