Sawyer Orion Rummelhart passed away after almost a year’s battle of Burkitt’s Lymphoma on February 19, 2016. Nathan Stroud,  heard this news and knew that he had to help donate to cancer charities.

Before Rummelhart Stroud had done a broadcasting story on Ms. Whitney Lum’s MyIntent bracelets that she was teaching how to make.

After his passing, however, Stroud saw the making of bracelets a perfect opportunity to help fund  research for the kind of cancer that Rummelhart had.

“He thought the bracelets would be a great way to connect and maybe heal a community all while donating to cancer research in Sawyer’s honor,” Lum said.

Stroud went to the family, whom he had never met before, and asked for their permission to hold six events at Twelve Bridges Middle School. He got volunteers to run the events and talked to the teachers at the middle school.

“I helped in that I’ve organized a fundraiser called Sawyer’s Intent. That is, developing the message, managing the booths and the training of the volunteers of the story,” Stroud said.

At the end of these events Stroud had raised $300 to go towards cancer charities in honor of Rummelhart’s name.

At an event,at Twelve Bridges Middle School, Stroud was asked to have a booth at Relay for Life by the coordinator. Stroud took the opportunity, seeing it as a perfect way to help.

“We made more Saturday than all six events combined,” Lum said.

While Stroud has been helping Rummelhart, he is also helping himself in a way.

“I had also wanted to do something more for my community, and this was my opportunity. This fundraiser is my start of doing something greater,” Stroud said.

Stroud will continue to raise money for cancer charities through Sawyer’s Intent, even though this is just a start for his long journey ahead.

by AVA JEUNG