Andre Sobel Award 2011

You Are

A Survivor2011

Andre Sobel

Award

Curious Strong

Resilient

vulnerable

hopeful ambitious

Tell us your story

IntroEach  year,  the  Andre  Sobel  River  of  Life  Foundation  hosts  an  essay  contest,  asking  the   national   community   of   young   survivors   of   catastrophic   illness   to   share   their  stories.  Four  winners  are  selected  out  of  the  hundreds  of  applicants.  

Share  in  the  powerful  stories  of  last  year’s  winners,  Emily  Ransom,  Colette  Jaycox,  Arianna  Elnes  and  Joseph  Tong.

The  Andre  Sobel  River  of  Life  Foundation  is  reaching  out  to  YOU,  the  community  of  young  people  across  this  country  who  are  doing  amazing  things,  who  have  powerful  stories  of  your  own   to  share  about  your  own  survival,  a   friend  or   family  member’s  struggle  or  the  every  day  challenges  you  may  face  and  obstacles  you  overcome.

Our  essay  winners  have  shared  who  they  are.  Now,  we  ask  you  to

TELL US YOUR STORY.

EmilyToday,  Emily  is  a  healthy  eighteen-­‐year-­‐old  living  life  to  the  fullest.  She   is  currently  a  freshman  at  Boston  College.  Her  major  is  Elementary  Education  and  she  plans  on  becoming  a  kindergarten  or  first  grade  teacher.  She  is  honored  to  be  part  of  the  BC  community  and  has  happily  transitioned  into  college  life.  

Emily  was  diagnosed  with  Acute  Lymphocytic  Leukemia  at  age   eleven.   Through   her   experience   with   cancer,   she  learned   to   appreciate   relationships   with   others   and   to  embrace  opportunities  in  life.  The  Andre  Sobel  Award  gave  Emily   the   chance   to   share   her   story   with   others.   Emily  knows  the  feeling  of  lying  in  a  hospital  bed,  being  told  you  have  a  terminal  illness.  Fear,  confusion,  sadness,  loneliness  and  even  anger   take  over  your  body  as   the  message  sinks  in.    The   poem  Emily  wrote   is   meant   to   inspire   others   on  their   journey  back  to  health.    Emily  hopes  that  others  will  connect  with  the  feelings  and  emotions  she  felt  throughout  her  journey  and  that  they  will  continue  to  fight  back.  Never  give  up  hope!

“I had cancer; cancer NEVER had me.”

Emily  Ransom,First  Place  Winner

ColletteColette   has   almost   completed   her   treatment   protocol,   but   it  has   been   a   long   journey   for   her   to   get   there.   Before   her  diagnosis,   she   was   actively   involved   in   her   school   and  community   as   the   captain   of   her   high   school   debate   team,  president   of   her   Amnesty   International   chapter   and   events  manager   for   the   Phoenix,   her   school’s   arts   and   literary  magazine,   as   well   as   interning   for   a   local   mayoral   campaign.  After  cancer  yanked  her  out  of  her  old  life,  she  continued  to  stay  involved  with  all  of  her  old  commitments   long  distance  as  well  as   complete   her   AP   classes   through   the   Stanford   Hospital  School,  muscling  through  the  queasiness,  exhaustion,  memory  loss   and   pain   associated   with   chemotherapy   to   finish   her  coursework.

Colette   was   particularly   inspired   to   write   her   piece   by   her  struggles   with   memory   loss   during   the   darker   days   of   her  treatment,  and  how  this  affected  her  and  her  relationships  with  the  people  around  her.  She  is  so  grateful   for  the  support  of  her  family   and  her   closest   friends,  without  whom   she  would   have  been  unable  to  cope  as  well  as  she  did.

Colette  JaycoxSecond  Place  Winner  

Arianna

Arianna’s   battle   with   cancer   has   empowered   her   and   given   her   the  courage   to   live   the   life   she’s   always   imagined.  After   graduating   high  school   in   2009,   she   took   a   year   off   to   simply   gain   experiences   while  continuing   her   recovery.   With   a   new   outlook   on   life,   she   spent   the  summer  working  at  a  salmon  cannery  in  Alaska  before  traveling  around  Central  and  South  America  as  well  as  Iceland,   seeing  the  world  with  a  new   set   of   deeply   appreciative   eyes.   Arianna   is   now   attending   Knox  College   in   Illinois,  and   is   currently  undecided   in   terms  of  a  major,  but  has  an  interest  in  Creative  Writing,  Linguistics  and  Anthropology.  

Arianna’s  advice  to  somebody  else  going  through  a  similar  battle   is   to  acknowledge  that  this  process  is   life  altering;  it’s  a  shock.  “You  will  hit  times  when  you   are  emotional,  and  you  won’t  understand.  Just   know  that  it’s  ok  to  be  sad  sometimes.  Recognize  that  feeling,  but  don’t  feel  a  need  to  try  to  explain  it.”

Arianna  ElnesThird  Place  Winner

Joseph

Joseph  attends  Richard  Montgomery  High  School  in  Maryland  and   enjoys  playing  competitive  soccer   on  his   school’s  Varsity  Soccer  team  that  is  ranked  #10  in  his  state.  He  is  a  student  in  the   International  Baccalaureate  program,  and  homework   is   a  constant   in  his   life.   Joseph   is   an   avid   skier   and   snowboarder  throughout  winter  and  makes  trips  to  local  ski   resorts  weekly  during  the  peak  of  ski  season.  He  has  drawn  and  played  piano  nearly  all  of  his  life  and  even  tried  his  hand  at  oil  painting  for  a  couple  of  years.  Many  of  his  paintings  are  hanging  in  his  house  as   decoration.   Joseph   likes   to   believe   that   he   lives   by   the  saying,  “I  had  cancer,  but  cancer  never  had  me.”  He  hopes  all  cancer  survivors  will  keep  that  thought  in  mind  no  matter   the  circumstances.   Joseph  Tong

Honorable  Mention

Participate

Share your story with the Andre Sobel community.➡ Post  your  story  to  our  Facebook  Wall.

➡ Tweet  us  your  experiences  @asriveroflife  or  use  the  hashtag  #mystory.

➡ Take  the  Facebook  Cause  Challenge  and  raise  money  for  a  family  in  need.

➡ Take  the  Campus  Challenge  and  organize  an  event  at  your  school.

➡ Email  us  your  story.

Participate

➡ Take   the  Campus  Challenge  by   organizing  an  event   on  your  campus   for  Andre  Sobel.  Event  ideas  include:

✓ Class  Announcements  to  get  your  fellow  students  interested.

✓ Organize  a  fundraiser  on  campus.  Get  a  local  band  or  performer  to  help  out.

✓ Tie   this   into   a   volunteer   organization,   like   a  Greek   philanthropy   or   a   campus  club.

✓ Host  a  fundraising  night  with  a  local  business,  like  your  favorite  hangout.

If   you  are   interested   in  holding  an  event  or  want   to  find  out  how,  contact  us!

Students   from  Cal  State  San  Bernardino   raised   over  $10,000  and  put  on  a  fundraiser  for  the  Foundation  this  last  June!

Participate

How would you describe yourself?Each   award   winner   described   themselves   in   a   series   of   adjectives,   shown   on   the  front  page  of  this  campaign  kit.  We  encourage  you  to  do  the  same!

We  have  started  a   thread  on  our  Facebook  page  and  will  be   tweeting  daily  to  find  out  who  YOU  are.  Participate  daily  to  share  your  story  and  your  passion  with  people  across  the  country.

ContactMail  donations  to:

P.O.  Box  361460,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90036T:  310-­‐276-­‐7111    F:  310-­‐276-­‐0244

For  media  inquiries  and  other  information,  please  contact  Stephanie  Margossian.

 E:  [email protected]

If  you  live  or  attend  school  in  the  Claremont  area  and  would  like  to  volunteer,  please  contact  us  at:

 Andre  Sobel  River  of  Life  Foundation

201  North  Indian  Hill  Boulevard,  Suite  202,  Claremont,  CA    91711  

Phone:    909-­‐626-­‐[email protected]

ANDRERIVEROFLIFE.ORG

You Are

A Survivor2011

Andre Sobel

Award

Curious Strong

Resilient

vulnerable

hopeful ambitious

Tell us your story