Gilmour Students Raise More Than $20,000 for Blood Cancer United Campaign

Two Gilmour Academy students turned compassion into action this year, leading a fundraising effort that made a meaningful impact in the fight against blood cancer.

Close friends Naya Hilal ’27 and Olivia Slocum ’27 stepped into leadership roles in the Blood Cancer United campaign this year after spending the past two years as team members. Blood Cancer United funds groundbreaking research, provides free education and support services and advocates for policy changes to improve the quality of life for blood cancer patients. Inspired by their earlier experiences — and by the powerful stories of patients and survivors — the pair set out to deepen their commitment and expand their impact.

“I first learned about the program through my sister, who was a team leader in 2024,” Naya shared. “Hearing from speakers and survivors made the mission feel very real. This year, I wanted to take on a larger role and make a more personal contribution.”

For Olivia, the motivation was both communal and personal. “I’ve always loved the sense of community this program creates,” she said. “After attending the Grand Finale and seeing the hope this organization brings, I knew I wanted to do more.” That desire grew even stronger following her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis — and recovery — reinforcing her commitment to supporting cancer research and advocacy.

Together, the two led a wide-ranging fundraising effort that combined grassroots outreach with school-wide engagement. Their team’s most impactful strategy was a coordinated letter-writing campaign, sending approximately 700 personalized donation requests to friends, family and community members.

“That effort alone made a huge difference,” they noted.

In addition, the team organized and participated in a variety of events across campus and beyond, including a dress-down day, bake sale, restaurant fundraiser, and collections at basketball games, the school musical and a swim meet held in honor of an individual who lost his life to blood cancer. They also worked to raise awareness by speaking directly to the Gilmour community and posting informational materials throughout campus.

Their efforts resulted in an impressive total: $20,485.85 raised to support blood cancer research and patient services.

At the program’s culminating Grand Finale event, Naya was recognized with the 2026 United for Advocacy Mission Award, an honor given to student leaders who demonstrate exceptional commitment to raising awareness and championing the stories of those affected by blood cancer.

“It was incredibly meaningful to be surrounded by so many passionate peers,” Naya said. “For me, advocacy is just as important as fundraising. Sharing the stories of families affected by blood cancer helps people better understand the impact and inspires them to get involved.”

To compete for the award, Naya completed an application process, reflecting on how she incorporated advocacy into the campaign and the specific actions she took to amplify the mission.

For both students, the experience has been about more than dollars raised — it has been about community, empathy and purpose.

“We took this on together because we share a passion for helping others,” they said. “And we’re already looking forward to making an even greater impact next year.”