Fieldston boasts having over 100 clubs, yet how many of them actually make a difference? The Challenge Cancer Club, newly founded this year, is a club with real connections to real people – making real change. The leaders, Ben Ni (Form VI), Harrison Schulte (Form VI), Bennet Askenazi (Form V) and Noor Hassan (Form V), created a club with a mission very personal to them: spreading awareness throughout the Fieldston community and fundraising for different types of cancer research.
The club’s work is personal. As a child, club leader Noor Hassan was diagnosed with kidney cancer and fully recovered at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). Since then, she’s been an active member in cancer fundraising, especially for pediatric cancer research. Outside of school, she has a fundraiser tied to Cycle for Survival, a non-profit organization that raises money for MSK through group cycling. Hassan thought, “A good way to bring that [recognition] into my own community was to tie it to Fieldston by starting a club and giving people a mutual place to come together.”
Her fellow club leaders Schulte and Askenazi have personal connections as well. Schulte’s mother had ovarian cancer and was part of To Every Amazing Lady (T.E.A.L), an organization dedicated to ovarian cancer research. Askenazi’s mother also had cancer and after growing up doing fundraising walks and other activities, Askenazi wanted “to do something at school that could get more people involved.”
In November, the club hosted its first event: a bake sale that raised over 500 dollars for the T.E.A.L organization. “I love being able to make some change, even if it’s just a little bit to make someone’s day,” said club leader Ni. “It’s better than nothing.” Rather than just creating awareness, the bake sale represented a tangible difference made for the community, which meant a lot to Ni and the other leaders.
On December 5th, the club hosted its second event: creating holiday cards for pediatric patients at MSK. Spirits were high as the room filled with chatter and laughs – even some faculty and students who weren’t members of the club joined in on the activity. Schulte loved seeing new faces as well as old: “The people in here, the community – it’s really great.” Participants made over 70 cards, with messages including: “Happy Holidays!”, “Happy New Year!” and “Let it Snow!” Even those not artistically inclined drew candy canes, Christmas trees, menorahs, snowmen and more.
The next morning, Hassan took all the cards to MSK. Julia Schwartz, the Head of Pediatric Life at MSK, brought Hassan to the “playroom”, a place where pediatric patients gather for activities, and told the kids high schoolers in Riverdale made holiday cards for them. Hassan described their reaction: “Their faces just lit up. They were really really joyful, you could tell such a little gesture really brightened their day.” Watching the kids, Hassan teared up. “Giving back to a community that did so much for me was really moving,” she said.
Looking ahead, the club aims to continue raising money and awareness on a topic very close to their hearts. Future event ideas include a fundraising walk (similar to the ones Askenazi participated in for her mom), a charity ping-pong game recommended by Schulte, the Varsity Table Tennis team captain, and an assembly. “Fieldston should address this issue more,” said Ni. “Having this club and an assembly are good first steps.”
