Meet Anh Nguyen | Founder of Cancer Relief Foundation
February 14, 2022
SHOUTOUT LA
"Every time I saw the smiles of the cancer warriors as they received my care packages, my heart filled with indescribable joy. It is a lovely and magical feeling that giving back has brought into my life, and that is when I realized that I have found something that I can find pure joy in doing. I sometimes wonder: What is it about giving back that makes me so happy? Scientists would say it is the endorphins. Psychologists would say it is the association between giving back and mental health. Yet, many after many thoughts, I found the answer of myself: No reason.
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After two years of delivering care packages to cancer warriors as the founder of Cancer Relief Foundation, I realized that when we do things we are in love with, we will start to forget about the reasons-because love truly has no reason. Love does not come from the mind but from the heart, and so does giving back.
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So why give back? Because my heart told me to do so. Why do I feel happy? Because I follow my heart."
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Student Turns Personal Tragedy Into Life Purpose
In her grandmother’s honor, Nguyen founded the nonprofit Cancer Relief Foundation and a club of the same name at John Burroughs High School in 2020. She said it took her some time to build up the strength to take action, but when she did, there was no turning back.
Nguyen’s organization provides financial relief as well as emotional support to cancer patients and survivors through care packages — to let them know that they are not alone on their journey.
“During the last day of my grandma’s life, I was not able to take care of her and that has left me with a lot of regrets,” Nguyen said. “So, when I do something for the cancer patients and those in the cancer community, it is a big comfort to me, because it makes me feel good knowing I can do something for others that I can no longer do for my grandma.”
Meet Anh Nguyen
April 26, 2021
"My experience as the founder of the Cancer Relief Foundation doesn’t just heal the empty feeling inside my heart from losing my grandma, but it also brings a purpose and a passion for me to work hard every day. Connecting with cancer patients and survivors and seeing the reality of cancer through the foundation’s platform has helped me realize that I am willing to devote the rest of my life to the cause."
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