OCU’s Relay For Life event adopted an honorary event chairperson for the first time.
Kyrian Anderson is a 10-year-old boy battling cancer for the second time. As the honorary chairperson, he will become the face of the fundraiser at OCU.
After going into remission, Kyrian had a recurrence and now endures treatment for his Leukemia. The Bartlesville, Okla., native is in Oklahoma City for a bone marrow transplant. Depending on his condition after the transplant, he plans to attend OCU’s Relay on April 8.
“Cancer is nameless and faceless, but when you see it impact someone, it gives you an added motivation,” said Zack Travers, business administration junior and Relay For Life chairman. “Kyrian is such a lovable and supportable face for us to rally around.”
Another committee member agreed and said she thinks Kyrian will increase support from students.
“He will help encourage people to support the cause, even if they don’t have someone near to them suffering from cancer,” said Ali Bryant, biomedical science/Spanish senior.
The Relay For Life committee met Kyrian through the American Cancer Society. After the committee accepted the proposal of an honorary chairperson, they used Skype to chat with him to learn about his situation and his family.
Kyrian has a younger sister named Rylie and two working parents who take turns spending time at home and with him in Oklahoma City. After his transplant, Kyrian will stay at The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral, 818 N.E. 8th St., a facility that provides temporary housing for pediatric patients and their families.
“After my transplant I have to stay close to the hospital and far away from my home for at least a hundred days,” Kyrian said in a video about Relay For Life.
Kyrian and the Relay For Life committee have the same challenge for students.
“We want each OCU student to recruit 10 friends,” Travers said. “Every participant also has a goal of raising $100 to represent Kyrian’s stay at the Kids Korral.”
When students sign up for a Relay For Life team, they pay a $10 registration fee that goes toward their $100 fundraising goal. From there, each participant can raise any amount of money.
Students can sign up for Relay For Life by visiting the website.
“Kyrian is not quitting,” Travers said. “He’s been through two rounds of chemo, and he’s bouncing off the walls and pushing others to be better. We can do the same.”
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