Walking through the hallways of Hall High School, Kelly arrived at her destination, A212. As she entered, she felt satisfied with all eyes looking in her direction. She was eager to share her thoughts, and her passions. Before her, there was a sea of people huddled together. After proceeding into the room, the crowd parts for Kelly, and stares immediately fall onto her. She walks to the front of the room and begins her opening speech, “Welcome to the Cancer Kids First Club (CKF)! My goal for our first meeting is to share the club’s number one priority: to provide normalcy and joy to kids affected by childhood cancer.” The crowd listened with ears open, and eyes engaged while Kelly shared her voice proudly for all to hear.

The Cancer Kids First Club is an organization from all over the world. A student at Hall High School, Kelly Taylor decided to bring CKF to the West Hartford community. Given Kelly’s personal diagnosis of CCMC and overall experience, she has always aspired to become a pediatric oncologist. After stumbling across this non-profit organization, Kelly received an interview request, and was soon introduced to the approval process. After her proposal was granted, Kelly began to successfully run the CKF club. The group has progressed by creating care packages, candy bags, organizing bake sales, and running raffles. The club often reaches out to local patients and their families, and is always looking into volunteer opportunities. Kelly wants to give all cancer kids the hope and opportunities they deserve. By running social media, placing posters around the school, and spreading the word in any way she can, she finds herself and the club positively impacting kids everywhere. “When I found this organization, I knew immediately that I wanted to bring it to Hall so that our students could be involved and contribute as well.” 

Olivia, a club member, describes the CKF club as encouraging and buoyant, and aims to help kids have a more optimistic experience while in treatment. Their work is inclusive as well as diverse by including club members from all grades and genders. Olivia believes that the club maintains a healthy and a positive environment so that all students can feel welcomed and safe. The success of the club has given teachers, advisors, and people in the club the opportunity to provide feedback that is beneficial and respectful. She describes the group as being embracing and compassionate, which gives kids hope considering so many patients find it easy to lose faith during this difficult time. “My goal is to help as many people as possible, and to spread our message to kids that are going through this difficult process,” Olivia states, “that things are going to be ok, and that they need to keep fighting and stay strong.”

Kelly, Olivia, and the rest of the CKF club members have provided so much support and reassurance to countless amounts of kids struggling with cancer. The club is in it together. They are ambitious and every one of them wants to make a difference. They want to give children the faith that most don’t have, and the spirit they hope for. As Olivia says she wants to: “bring light into the darkness, and most importantly, always stay positive.”