The Life Savers Raise Money to Fight Cancer With Bake Sale

As of 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, Riley Vires is only $50 short of her goal to raise $800 for her Relay for Life team. Relay for Life is a charitable event through the American Cancer Society that raises money to fight cancer.

On April 10, Vires, a sixth grade student at Cossitt Grade School, and her team members got together after school to sell baked goods to raise money.

Patch caught up with Riley to talk about her team, The Life Savers, how they got started raising money for Relay for Life and why raising money to fight cancer is a good thing to do.

Patch: Why do you think supporting charitable events like Relay for Life is important?

Vires: I know how hard it is for families who have experienced cancer. Cancer started to affect my life even before I was born. My Aunt Tammy, my mom's sister, was diagnosed with leukemia when she was only seven years old. The good news is that she is cured!! During the time my Aunt Tammy was in treatment, her mom, my Grandma Yvonne, who I am named after (Riley Yvonne) died of melanoma. She was 40 years old and left [behind] my mom, aunt and Grandpa Ron. Cancer continues to affect me because my Grandma June was diagnosed with lymphoma in January.

La Grange Patch: How did you get interested in participating in Relay for Life?

Riley Vires: When I was younger I saw all the older kids at school doing fundraisers for Relay For Life. I knew that when I was old enough, that I wanted to do it too. So when my friend, Laura Kimberling, organized a team and sent me an email inviting me to join her, I knew that I was ready! It's great to be able to work together with some of my friends. Some of our other friends are on The Super Hero Team!

Patch: Why did you think a bake sale would be a good way to raise funds?

Vires: Most kids like sweets, so our team thought having a bake sale after school would attract kids who wanted an after school snack. 

Patch: How much are you hoping to raise?

Vires: We hoped to raise at least $100, but once we started to set up and saw all the treats, we hoped we'd make a lot more!

Patch: The Life Savers is a great team name, how did you pick it?

Vires: We picked the name Life Savers because we knew that every penny we raised could help save a cancer patient's life.  The candy went along well, so it makes the name fun!

If you'd like to help support Vires and her Relay for Life team, you can add a donation here.