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<\/a>Upper School Head Ron Algeo (left) with Malvern junior Andrew Clark. Clark has been speaking to students to encourage support for his “Catch the Cure” campaign to raise money for cancer research.<\/p><\/div>\n
The money raised through Clark\u2019s campaign will go to game-changing immunotherapy research spearheaded by Dr. Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has raised more than $1 billion for cancer research,\u201d notes Clark. \u201cJune\u2019s research with genetically modifying T-cells with the HIV virus to fight off cancer cells has shown the ability to cure cancer within a week. That is amazing to think how far they have come with the support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Clark was diagnosed with leukemia when he was three years old. During his seven-year battle with the disease Clark became friends Mark Rodgers\u2014the \u201cone other kid\u201d he knew who had cancer. Clark and Rodgers, a student at Springfield High School, shared the same doctor at A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children. When Rodgers, who won the 2015 LLS Student of the Year award, nominated his friend this year, Clark immediately thought of his Malvern brothers.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTo see how many guys who had cancer in that small community was crazy to me,\u201d he says. \u201cThe LLS Student of the Year is a perfect opportunity to get the other cancer survivors and the whole Malvern community behind me to help make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Malvern\u2019s three other cancer survivors, Mason Abate, a senior from Malvern, Ethan Bedwell, a senior from Media, and Nick Calvaresi, a junior from Malvern, have all devoted themselves to Clark\u2019s campaign. \u201cI think that we will have a bond that lasts a lifetime,\u201d says Clark of the group. \u201cI know I will remember them all for the rest of my life and hope that they will be able to do the same. They all know that we would not be here today if it wasn\u2019t for people 20 years ago who were inspired to save lives. Because of that, we are motivated to help find a cure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Calvaresi shares Clark\u2019s sentiment. \u201cI was surprised to hear that there were other cancer survivors here at Malvern, and it also comforted me to think that there are others who struggled like me and know the hard times I actually went through.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Abate is thankful that these friends are still around to share their stories and help others. \u201cNot only do I consider Andrew a close friend, I want to help him because I know he wants to help other kids like us,\u201d he says. \u201cNo matter the age, cancer sucks. It\u2019s that simple. I want to help as much as I can, in any way I can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Abate was diagnosed with cancer when he was a freshman, and his struggle galvanized the Malvern community. \u201cThe brotherhood at Malvern is something I can\u2019t put into words,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen I was first diagnosed, the whole school got dressed in orange and lined up to spell my initials on the football field. They did that just to try to make me feel a little bit better and let me know they had my back. My classmates used Google Hangouts or FaceTime with me for every single class period so I would not have to repeat a year. The brotherhood at Malvern is real.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor many people, Mason\u2019s illness is still fresh in their minds. They were really affected by Mason\u2019s illness and treatment, and they will do anything the can to help find a cure,\u201d Clark says.<\/span><\/p>\n So what can you do?<\/span><\/p>\n On Saturday, February 20, Clark is hosting a \u201cCatch the Cure\u201d event beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Main Line Sports Center in Berwyn. This family event features food, games, auctions and fun for all ages. You can learn more about the event at catchthecure.net<\/a>. You can also make a donation to Clark\u2019s Student of the Year award\u00a0at the site.<\/span> The LLS campaign closes at Grand Finale Celebration on Saturday, February 27 at the Loews Hotel Philadelphia.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n