Ali was one of my best friends throughout middle school and into high school. We were percussionists together in our middle school and high school bands, shared many laughs, and both share a love of manatees. She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was in elementary school and went into remission. In middle school, she relapsed again and went into remission a second time. While we were in high school, Ali relapsed with leukemia for a third time, and she passed during our sophomore year of high school. Her funeral was on Christmas Eve, and ever since her passing, I have tried to keep her memory alive and do what I can to support others who are experiencing the same situation and diagnosis as her. As a freshman in high school, I wanted to do something for Ali to show her that she was loved and supported while she was in high school. So, I designed and implemented a fundraiser for Blood Cancer United by selling pink (her favorite color) bracelets that had "Ali's Allies" on them. Even though she has passed, I wear my pink bracelet for large-life events to keep her memory alive.
Kendra
Friend and advocate
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