At Oak Park High School, the Go Gold Club is bringing students together to support children battling cancer. Partnering with the Super Joey Foundation, the club organizes fundraisers, community service events and awareness campaigns to highlight the realities of childhood cancer and show support for affected families.
The club is also part of a growing network of Go Gold clubs in schools across different districts, all working toward the same goal.
“The club was started to help support the growing community of Go Gold clubs in different school districts,” sophomore Wenqing Lu said.
Through its partnership with the Super Joey Foundation, the club is able to organize events and connect with a broader community working toward the same mission.
“They [Super Joey Foundation] give us guidance and resources so we can support families and spread awareness in our community,” Lu said.
For many members, one of the most important parts of the club’s mission is educating others about childhood cancer and the challenges families face.
“Many people don’t realise how serious childhood cancer is,” Lu said. “Raising awareness can bring more support, more research and more attention to something that often gets overlooked.”
Members also hope to address common misconceptions about childhood cancer.
“A lot of people think childhood cancer is rare or already well funded,” Lu said. “But it actually receives much less research funding than many other cancers which is why spreading awareness and creating a branch of the club is so important to me.”
The phrase “Go Gold,” is a meaningful symbol for the members of the club.
“To us, ‘Go Gold’ means standing with children who are battling cancer and showing them they’re not alone,” Lu said. “It represents awareness, support and hope.”
For many students involved, the club also offers an opportunity to make a positive impact in their community.
“We host fundraisers and run community service events [such as food drives and toy drives] to raise awareness and so our members are able to make a tangible impact on the community,” Lu said. “Each event is incredibly helpful and helps bring people together to support children with cancer.”
For Lu, her goal in leading the club was to create a space where youth leaders work to make a tangible impact by supporting children with cancer through research-driven initiatives and expanding outreach.
“Being involved in the club has shown me how important teamwork and community support are when helping others,” Lu said.
Looking ahead, Lu hopes the club will continue to grow to organize bigger events and inspire more students to get involved.
“My goal is to raise even more awareness and get more students involved,” Lu said. “If more people understand the cause, we can make an even bigger difference.”
Although the club may start with small actions like fundraisers and service events, its members believe those efforts can lead to something much bigger.
“Even small actions can make a big difference,” Lu said. “The more awareness we raise, the more support children with cancer can receive.”
For those interested in getting involved, the Go Gold club welcomes all students. Whether through volunteering at events or helping spread awareness, even small contributions can help support children battling cancer and their families. The club meets on Thursdays, once a month at lunch in H-03 for students who are interested.
