Tags
When 4-year-old Sammy received a life-changing diagnosis, Husker junior Kaileigh Delano watched as her Columbus, Nebraska, community came together to support him and his family.
Years later, Delano is still helping raising funds for pediatric cancer research through Sammy's Superheroes. As president of Sammy’s Superheroes, Delano turned the gratitude she has in her our own life into action that helps others.
“Sammy’s Superheroes is an organization that raises money and awareness for childhood cancer research,” Delano said. “It started in 2012 when Sammy, a 4-year-old boy from my hometown, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.”
Watching as her friends and neighbors rallied around Sammy and his family showed Delano firsthand the power and impacts of a community coming together.
“Sammy’s aunt was actually my fourth-grade science teacher. One day, I just decided to start asking around for donations to Sammy’s Superheroes and gave her the money I raised,” she said. “Fundraising for Sammy’s has been part of my life ever since.”
After initially raising money to support Sammy and his family, the Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation has since raised tens of thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer research. As the organization expanded to campuses across the state, Delano soon got involved in the UNL branch after she came to college.
“The UNL junior board sets up fundraisers throughout the year, usually partnering with sponsor businesses,” she said. “I also wanted to find a way to make more direct impacts, so we’ve started making blankets for kids and their families in hospitals.”
For Delano, being part of Sammy’s Superheroes has been a way to help others and to keep her own life in perspective.
“Seeing my community back home create such incredible support for Sammy’s family and watching those impacts grow to so many other families has really changed my life,” she said. “I’m so lucky to have had such a normal childhood — I feel like the least I can do is help raise money and share the stories of kids who are going through this really hard journey.”
