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EDUCATION
David Paulk [email protected] @paulkatdover
Jessalynn Kenton’s using two of her pastimes, running and doughnuts, to raise money for leukemia research.
The Lake Forest High School Senior is planning a 5K run at Killens Pond State Park. The date and other details are still in the works, but Kenton says she’s already planned on some extra motivation for perspective runners: along the path, there’ll be free donuts.
Kenton was one of 14 students chosen by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a volunteer health agency promoting blood cancer research, to become the next Delaware Chapter Student of the Year.
The nominated students will spend the next six weeks creating and organizing fundraising events, like Kenton’s 5K run, to support leukemia and lymphoma research. The winner will be announced March 25.
The student who raises the most money will receive a $2,500 scholarship to spend on a college of their choice.
Kenton is a self-driven student. She plays track, soccer and is on the swim team, and in her spare time enjoys reading and art. Part of her inspiration is a desire to be like her mother, who was crippled after an accident at the annual Battle of the Bell football game.
“Everyone loved my mom and everyone respected her opinion,” she said. “I want to be just like that.”
Why did you enter the competition?
Originally, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it or not, because it is in the middle of swim season. I thought I really needed to just focus on that. But a few of my counselors said I should go ahead and do it.
A lot of families in the state of Delaware are impacted by cancer in some way. Whether it’s someone that we know and love, or someone that they know, it’s almost like a branch. At some point in your life you’ll meet several people who have been impacted by cancer.
My family was hit by lung cancer three years ago, when my grandfather passed away. [This fundraiser] may not be the lung cancer association or anything like that, but I can at least do something to help other families.
I know what they’re going through and what that feels like to need money for the treatment and for the research. I wish help like this was around when my family was going through this.
How did your grandfather’s passing motivate you?
It was very sudden when my grandfather passed. We had known that he had cancer for a few years. Typically when they’re reaching their end they start to feel a lot better. They seem more active, have more energy and a little bit stronger then they normally are.
We were kind of like ‘wow he must be getting better and the treatments must be working,’ and then all of a sudden one day—he was gone.
It was a shock almost. You’re thinking, “Okay he’s going to get a lot better. He’s going to be able to see me graduate from high school. He’s going to get to see me at my wedding— and now he’s not.”
What do you hope to get out of this program?
I thought this is just another way for me to get involved and help other people. I also want to be a public figure and spokesperson for [the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This way] anyone who has questions can come to me and talk to me about it and I can point them in the right direction.