Since April 6, a team of students at Cranston High School West has been working to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, hoping to be named as this year’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student of the Year team.

The group, which includes JVD team leaders Jake Lauro, Vy Ho, and Destinee DelBonis, along with a team of 10 team members, has been employing their own strengths and talents as well as utilizing the strengths and support of their friends and family, making posters, writing letters, sending emails and posting on social media, all in attempt to be the team that raises the most money over ten weeks’ time for LLS.

Team JVD has held multiple fundraisers already, including a drive-in movie night, a Mario Kart event, a car wash, a Sundaes ice cream night and an Applebee’s night. Although the group can’t talk about the amount of money they’ve raised so far, they are excited with their progress and pleased with how their fundraising has been going so far.

“When the representative came to the school to talk to our class council, we pretty much decided right then and there that we wanted to do this,” Ho said.

“We are all sophomores and we all have previous experience raising money for different charities,” Lauro said.

The group began a communication outreach effort right away, starting out strong right out of the gate.

“We’ve sent out almost 200 printed letters and handwritten letters to family, friends, coaches, and other contacts,” DelBonis said, noting that those outreach efforts have been well-received.

This coming weekend the group has two big fundraising events on Sunday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a Cut-a-Thon at Salon Inspirations (1636 Cranston St., Cranston) and a yard sale being held at the same time and location. All proceeds will be going to Team JVD’s fundraiser for LLS.

Team JVD each knows someone who has fought a battle with cancer, and is doing this in an effort to help in that fight. The winning team will win $2,500 in scholarship money, which is to be split equally among the team leaders.

For more information about upcoming events, to make a donation or to learn more, visit events.lls.org/ri/rhodeislandsoy2018/teamjvd.