We’ve all heard the ads on the radio: “Donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure! Support the American Cancer Society! Believe in Children’s National Medical Center!” But Hayden’s Journey of Inspiration (HJI), a local foundation started by senior Hayden Zavareei in 2009, takes the battle against cancer to a whole new level.
Zavareei was diagnosed in July of 2004 with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare type of cancer. For the next five years, she made several emergency trips to the hospital and was admitted more than once. Each time, however, she won the battle and was able to go back home at last.
This coming Sun., Oct. 11, HJI will hold its fourth annual 5K and 1-mile race in the Wyngate neighborhood of Bethesda, MD. The money raised will be used to pay for the rent, heat/air conditioning, water and all other expenses for the three apartments HJI currently rents in Durham, North Carolina. These apartments house families traveling to Duke Hospital from outside the area seeking pediatric stem cell transplants. The apartments are all completely furnished, and the Zavareeis try to make them feel like home.
“When families are staying there, they really feel comfortable,” Zavareei said. She received a transplant from Duke Hospital in 2004 while battling leukemia, and sees her work with HJI as a way to give back to the community.
“It was after…my transplant [that I founded HJI] and so, I decided that I wanted to help families in a more personal way,” Zavareei said.
Zavareei is currently serving as HJI’s community outreach coordinator and spokesperson.
“It’s a personal connection [for] me because I know how hard it is, and that’s kind of a big deal,” she said.
Senior Ramsay Burgess is signed up to participate in the one mile run this Sunday.
“I think I’m [also] going to be painting faces, so that’ll be pretty fun,” Burgess said.
Besides a face-painting station this year, the event will feature an inflatable moon bounce, great music and fun activities. Souvenirs, such as pens, lanyards and T-shirts for runners and volunteers will also be available.
Part of Zavareei’s job as HJI’s community outreach coordinator is asking companies to donate money or sponsor the charity. The donation money was used to buy prizes for the runners, and thanks to these companies’ generosity, many prizes were purchased.
“Even though childhood cancer is something I can’t really cure, at least I can relieve the stress of families who are going through this traumatic event,” Zavareei said. “It impacts the entire family, and that’s…a big thing.”
What part of this Sunday’s race are you most excited about? Respond to the poll below and see what the rest of the WJ community has to say!
[playbuzz-item url=”//www.playbuzz.com/thepitchonline10/what-are-you-most-looking-forward-to-at-hjis-annual-5k-and-1-mile-run”]
