Village President Sheena Collum issued two proclamations relating to childhood cancer at the South Orange Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday: designating September National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
SO VP Sheena Collum, Sierra Spriggs and Valerie Fund’s Tina Kaplan.
Both proclamations were accepted by a representative of The Valerie Fund, a Maplewood-based organization that provides support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders. “Today there are seven Valerie Fund Centers serving 4,000 children a year,” said Tina Kaplan, Walk Campaign Coordinator, “and this proclamation helps our fundraising efforts immensely, so we thank you.”
Kaplan then introduced Sierra Spriggs, a SHU senior and former Valerie Fund patient, whom she called “a tremendous woman.”
Spriggs thanked the trustees and told them her story. First diagnosed with cancer at age 5, she relapsed twice, most recently at age 16. “But the Valerie Fund was with me from the beginning, and they helped me with everything from a little toy, to a college scholarship that helped me to go to Seton Hall,” she said.
“I can’t wait to graduate in May, knowing that the Valerie Fund is supporting my personal goal to help kids like me live a longer life, graduate and do amazing things with their life because they are here to live it.”
