Lake Belton cheerleaders Brooklyn and Chandler show off their Go Gold t-shirts at the football game on October 1st .
FOUNDATION NEWS
The Broncos Go Gold
A new area high school raises funds to support kids in their own school district who are battling cancer .
ake Belton High School kicked off their inaugural football season with a fundraiser in honor of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month . The Broncos sold special “ Go Gold ” t-shirts throughout the month of September to raise more than $ 4,400 in support of cancer patients at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children ’ s .
Belton ISD student Sofia Gomez helped inspire students , faculty , and staff to support kids in their own community who are fighting against cancer . She and her family were present to accept the donation on behalf of McLane Children ’ s at the Broncos ’ football game on October 1st .
Sofia was diagnosed with cancer during her first week of kindergarten . “ Sofia was so excited to start school ,” her mother says . “ She normally has lots of energy , but she was sleeping a lot and didn ’ t have much appetite . Her stomach was swollen , and she was getting bruises easily . She would come home from school totally exhausted .”
A bone marrow biopsy at McLane Children ’ s revealed Sofia had leukemia , a cancer of the blood . She immediately started chemotherapy . “ The treatment was really hard on her , especially in the beginning ,” Sofia ’ s mother says . “ She lost about half her body weight and could barely walk without being out of breath . We had to walk behind her when she stepped up onto a sidewalk to make sure she wouldn ’ t fall because she was so weak .”
After two years of grueling chemotherapy , Sofia will complete her final treatment later this year , just in time for Christmas . Although her weakened immune system means Sofia must attend classes virtually during the pandemic , she is still just as thrilled about school . “ She ’ s really strong now ,” her mother says . “ She loves playing outside , drawing , swimming , and is so excited to be in second grade .”
Sofia is back to her normal energy levels after two years of chemotherapy .
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CENTRAL TEXAS FOUNDATION NEWS / FALL 2020