Tiburon teens lead campaigns to fight blood cancer

Above, Amelie Mostafavi (center) stands with members of her Team Better Together fundraising team, while below, Zoraya Zolfaghari-Ashcroft holds a sign for Blood Cancer United’s Student Visionaries of the Year program. The two Tiburon teens are each leading campaigns through March 21 to raise money for blood-cancer research and patient support. (via Amelie Mostafavi and Zoraya Zolfaghari-Ashcroft)

Two Tiburon teens have each launched fundraising campaigns to benefit blood-cancer research and patient-support programs.

Zoraya Zolfaghari-Ashcroft and Amelie Mostafavi are taking part in Blood Cancer United’s Student Visionaries of the Year program, in which teens throughout the country spend seven weeks raising money for the nonprofit while also educating their communities about blood cancers.

Students apply for and are accepted into the program, then work with nonprofit staff to develop a fundraising plan. They are encouraged to form a team of peers and adults to aid their fundraising efforts, which involve personal appeals as well as pitches to businesses and individuals for sponsorships. The student leader who raises the most money nationally earns the title of Student Visionary of the Year.

Zoraya, 16 and a sophomore at the Urban School of San Francisco, is leading a team of 16 other teens and adults dubbed “Team for the Cure,” with a goal of raising at least $35,000 to go toward Blood Cancer United’s patient-support services. Those include oncology nurses to help connect patients to clinical trials and answer care questions; information specialists to provide guidance and support to patients and caregivers; financial assistance to help cover basic needs for patients; and college scholarships for child and young-adult survivors.

Amelie, 15 and a sophomore at Redwood High School, is leading a team of 11 of her peers called “Team Better Together,” with a goal of raising at least $75,000 to aid the nonprofit’s cutting-edge research efforts.

Both girls kicked off their fundraising campaigns Jan. 30 and are accepting donations through March 21.

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