While students and families gather in the commons on Feb. 24, individuals collect thrifted items to purchase for donations towards blood cancers.

Seniors Haley Crone and Rilee Melzer are student visionaries for the Panthers Against Blood Cancers organization and were able to bring the school garage sale to life.

“Rilee and I have been best friends since second grade, so when she asked me to be a part of this I said yes because I love anything medical,” Crone said.

With Crone having type one diabetes, she wanted to reach out and educate others on diseases and health. 

“I always knew what the feeling was like to have no one know much about my disease, so I want to make sure no one has to feel how I felt,” Crone said.

For Melzer, she was inspired to be a part of this organization after losing her grandmother to cancer.

“I understand what it means to lose someone who is close to you because of cancer,” Melzer said.

While taking ideas from previous years, they decided to follow through with this event once again, and ended up raising over $2,000 with a final overall total revealed on March 8.

“We pitched it to the school district and talked to (principal) Pontious about the idea and she loved it,” Crone said.

Panthers Against Blood Cancers will hold their last event on March 2, an awareness walk for Leukemia and Lymphoma cancer at High Park Amphitheater from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

“We collect donations and it’ll all go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society to help and fund research, education and advocacy,” Crone said.

With being able to be a part of this organization, Crone and Melzer talk about the new community that they got to know throughout the campaign.

“It’s an amazing group of people who are just fighting for a cure day and night, it’s made me appreciate life so much more,” Crone said.

“Being able to share to young kids that might not know very much about it and showing that anything can help was very impactful,” Melzer said.