UF students hold fundraiser for pediatric cancer research

Students in the UF College of Pharmacy are raising money to benefit the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

The American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists and PediaGators are working together to host Pennies for Peds, a fundraiser that raises money for pediatric cancer research. It will run through September, which is childhood cancer awareness month, said Joette Amundaray, vice president of membership for PediaGators.

“Pediatrics is a passion of mine and it’s what I want to do with my career,” the 23-year-old third year UF pharmacy graduate student said. “I’ve had a personal experience with pediatric cancer, and it’s something that I really care about.”

As of press time, the fundraiser has raised more than $400.

Sarah Fawaz, a third year UF pharmacy graduate student and vice president of patient care projects for the student association, created Pennies for Peds last year when she began asking friends, family and classmates to donate spare change for pediatric cancer research. On the first day, she raised $53.

Fawaz then reached out to all four UF pharmacy school campuses in Florida to get other students involved. Last year, Pennies for Peds raised a total of $6,000. This year’s goal is to raise $10,000, she said.

Fawaz has never been directly impacted by pediatric cancer, but she said she felt like it was her duty to raise awareness for the kids who don't have a voice.

“Parents are not thinking about how they can raise awareness for this when they are worrying about how to keep their child alive,” the 24-year-old said. “It’s up to the people with the energy and time to help these kids to do something about it.”