Help Local Branch of LLS Children’s Initiative Raise $100 Thousand, Secure 2 Childhood Cancer Research Grants

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Deborah Porras, Pastor at Beverley Hills Community United Methodist Church, seeks the generosity of Alexandrians to help her raise $100 thousand to support the LLS Children’s Initiative and secure two grants for childhood cancer research.

When Deborah’s son, Gabe, was just seven years old, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“He fought his battle which included chemo treatments, hospital stays, surgeries, countless needle pokes, missing school, lots of vomiting, facing the reality that he might die, and long-term side effects that still impact him today,” Deborah explains.

Today, Gabe is a cancer-free, thirteen year old, and Deborah is competing in the Man/Woman of the Year Campaign for Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) for the DC Metro Area in honor of her son.

During this 10 week fundraising competition, which began on May 1, Deborah is hoping to raise $100 thousand to fund 2 grants for childhood cancer research. The fundraiser concludes this Saturday, June 12 with a silent auction and gala. The silent auction is currently open and runs until Saturday, June 12 7:15pm. The gala is Saturday, June 12 7-8:15pm.

“When my son had cancer, we had a motto: ‘No one fights alone,’ and it took a great community for us to navigate the horrible uprooting that cancer brings into a family, especially for a child.”

To honor this motto and represent all the love and support Deborah, Gabe, and their whole family received during Gabe’s battle, Deborah’s LLS fundraising team is named “No One Fights Alone.” To donate to Deborah’s team, visit Deborah’s fundraising website.

So far, Deborah has raised $86 thousand of her $100 thousand goal. With the help of the final silent auction and gala, and the kindness of Alexandrian hearts, Deborah hopes to beat her goal and secure two grants for childhood cancer research.

“Our family wanted to do something to give back and show our gratitude,” Deborah states. “I want to make certain that all children who have to face cancer can be survivors, like Gabe.”

To donate, visit https://pages.lls.org/mwoy/nca/dcmetro21/dporras

The gala begins Saturday, June 12 7-8:15pm: https://e.givesmart.com/p/:jYGDHJYEc6l/e/ktC/i/_All/#iteme891

The silent auction is currently open until Saturday, June 12 7:15pm: https://e.givesmart.com/p/:jYGDHJYEc6l/e/ktC/i/_All/#iteme891