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Lee
Salazar with CSF Founder Yeshim Yonter
CSF
Gala - April 22, 2005
Lee
Salazar is a three times cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with Leukemia
at the of age 3 with relapses at ages 8 and 16. Lee is a sophomore at
Houston
Community College
majoring in Child Life. He
has been a counselor at
Camp
Periwinkle
for the last ten years which is a week long summer camp for children with
cancer between the ages of 7-14. He also is a counselor for
Camp
YOLO
(You Only Live Once). This camp is a weekend camp for teenagers ages
13-18 and affiliated with
Camp
Periwinkle. In his own words:
”I'm
an outgoing and extremely friendly person. I'm also a caring,
loving, and hard working individual. If there is something that I
want to achieve I will strive to succeed. I enjoy being a role model
to children and adults who have been stricken with cancer. Having had cancer has shaped my life and put my values and career goals
in a whole new perspective. Everything that I do has to do with my
experiences with cancer as a child. I began going to
Camp
Periwinkle
at age 8 and loved it so much that I returned every summer until I was
fourteen. I couldn't wait to return as a junior counselor.
I've been a counselor now for 10 years. I enjoy being around
children and teenagers, especially those that may be going through a rough
time due to an illness. I understand what it's like to be sick, and
lose close friends. I had a great support of people helping me get
through it. My family, friends, organizations, such as the
Periwinkle Foundation, and my strong will is what has kept me alive.
I want to be there for others now and give to them what was given to me.
I
don't know when I will finish college but I know that I will continue to
go even if it's only one class at a time; because that is all I can
handle. I've always struggled in life with my studies. It makes me
sad that my chemotherapy and radiation played a big part in my learning
hardships.
My
life has had many upsets however I'm still alive and striving to achieve
all I want in life. There are two things that I believe and they are
that God does things for a reason and that everyone has a purpose on this
earth. I feel that I am doing my best by mentoring people with
cancer and educating others about the disease. My life will continue
to follow the path of servicing children and families touched by cancer. I
am grateful to Cancer Survivors’ Fund and people behind it to make it
easier for me to continue my studies with their financial and dedicated
help.”
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