ISD Students, Staff & Community Raise $50,000 for American Cancer Society

More than 500 ISD students, staff and community members gathered for the Relay For Life Friday, March 18 at Truman High School. The incredible event raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society. Ceremonies began with a lap around the school gym in honor of cancer survivors and included a luminaria to honor and remember those who battled the disease.

Three guest speakers shared stories of survival and dedication. Angela Candiano, second-grade teacher at William Southern Elementary, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer three years ago. She underwent nine months of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. Now cancer-free, she walked the survivor lap last year after many former students and their families purchased luminaries in her honor. She received a standing ovation this year and students poured out of the bleachers to hug her and pose for photos.  A teacher in the ISD for 18 years, her dream is to start a breast cancer foundation.

Truman student Onyeka Chigbogwu also shared his battle. When he was in sixth grade, his face started to swell. He thought he had a tooth infection, but he was later diagnosed with leukemia.  After two years of treatment, the 14-year-old just found out last month his cancer is in remission.  

Truman freshman Mikayla Dixon has several family members and friends with cancer and she wants to ‘flush’ the disease. So, she placed three purple toilets around Independence, asking people to donate in order to ‘flush out cancer.’  Her team raised more than $3,000.  The event was emotional and incredible to see so many people come together to fight cancer.