Rayen Early College Relay for classmates, teacher battling cancer

YOUNGSTOWN

Rayen Early College Middle School students and staff raised about $1,900 for the American Cancer Society and a classmate who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Friday marked the school’s third Relay for Life. Students sold cookies, candy and T-shirts, staged a basket raffle and charged students to play football and other games in the Chaney campus track’s infield to raise money.

The black T-shirts read “Walk for Daniela” across the back.

Eighth-grader Daniela Viera, 14, was diagnosed last July with an abdominal tumor. She undergoes chemotherapy weekly.

A portion of the proceeds will go to Daniela and her family with the remainder for the American Cancer Society.

Initially, the only person she told at school was her best friend. Her friend told others who planned the event.

Sandy Hoziak, the school nurse, and Ashlee Cline, guidance counselor, planned the event.

“This is the third year, and each year we’ve raised about $2,000,” Hoziak said. “And that’s from 164 kids.”

The event also honored seventh-grader Britney Rodriguez, 13, who survived a brain tumor, and teacher Georgiana Naoum, a 41⁄2-year breast-cancer survivor.

Daniela’s mother, Aleidy Miranda, said her daughter’s problems began last summer with what looked like a mosquito bite on her abdomen.

Read more about the event in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.