TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT

AT SEVEN YEARS OLD, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THYROID CANCER. FOR TWO YEARS, MY LIFE WAS A CYCLE OF HOSPITAL VISITS, SURGERIES, AND TREATMENTS THAT MOST KIDS MY AGE COULDN’T IMAGINE. THERE WERE DAYS WHEN I FELT WEAK AND AFRAID, BUT I WAS SURROUNDED BY DOCTORS, FAMILY, AND SUPPORTERS WHO GAVE ME THE STRENGTH TO KEEP FIGHTING. BY THE TIME I WAS NINE, I WAS CANCER FREE, BUT I NEVER FORGOT WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE A CHILD FACING SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER THAN MYSELF.

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WHEN I CAME TO RUTGERS, I KNEW I WANTED TO TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE. THAT IS HOW RUFORACURE BEGAN. WHAT STARTED AS AN IDEA QUICKLY GREW INTO A MOVEMENT ON CAMPUS, BRINGING STUDENTS TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY PEDIATRIC CANCER.

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RUFORACURE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST RAISING MONEY. IT IS ABOUT RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY, AND SHOWING THAT EVEN AS COLLEGE STUDENTS, YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT. MY BATTLE WITH CANCER BECAME THE SPARK THAT DRIVES ME, AND RUFORACURE IS PROOF THAT DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES CAN INSPIRE HOPE AND PURPOSE.

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- DANNY MCCAFFERY, FOUNDER