Westlake High School Students Push to Raise $80,000 in Fight Against Blood Cancer

WESTLAKE, OHIO — Two Westlake High School juniors are entering the final 24 hours of a high-stakes fundraising push aimed at supporting families affected by leukemia and lymphoma. Maria Tadross and Claire Wenham, leading their group called Team Hope, have spent the last seven weeks competing in the Blood Cancer United Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. The team set an ambitious bar for itself this year with a total fundraising goal of $80,000. This is the second year Tadross has participated in the program, but it is her first time stepping into the role of a candidate. Her motivation is deeply personal. Having watched family members go through the exhausting cycle of cancer treatments and doctor appointments, she has seen how much of a toll the process takes on a household. Wenham joined the cause with a similar drive, working in memory of both of her grandmothers, who died of blood cancer. The organization's Student Visionaries campaign is a competitive initiative that brings high school students from across the Cleveland area together to see who can generate the most support for research and patient services. While the competition is fierce, the students keep their focus on local survivors like 6-year-old McKayla. Diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 2, McKayla spent a significant portion of her early childhood in hospitals undergoing chemotherapy. Her story serves as the primary inspiration for Team Hope this year. According to the campaign records, McKayla officially finished her treatment journey on March 20, 2024, when she rang the bell to celebrate her recovery. Tadross says that McKayla is a constant reminder that the money raised is not just a statistic, it is a way to fuel the research that gives families a future. The fundraising window closes tomorrow, and the team is looking for final donations or corporate matching to reach its $80,000 milestone. Contributions can be made through the official campaign page at pages.lls.org/svoy/noh/svoynoh26/mtadross. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.