Fairmont Newsroom

Students Create Non-Profit, Join Fight Against Cancer

February 2009

ANAHEIM, CA - Feb. 26, 2009 — Both Esther Chung, 16, and Tomoko Nyunoya, 18, of Fullerton have had family members and close friends lose their lives to cancer. Becoming aware of the fragility of life and considering the possibility of loss, bonded the two young classmates, both of whom are juniors at the Fairmont Preparatory Academy in Anaheim. Instead of dwelling on their losses, they volunteered at area hospitals; and instead of becoming embittered, they banded together to form their own nonprofit, the Cancer Universal Research Endowment (CURE) Foundation, Inc.

Putting together an official nonprofit organization is not an easy task for anyone new to the process, regardless of age. Despite limited resources, Chung and Nyunoya rose to the occasion, devoting most of their free time researching the proper filing procedures and meeting with a lawyer to form CURE in just four months. Nyunoya even learned website design and production in an effort to save money and created the organization's site, www.curefoundation.info, herself.

"In the beginning, it was very difficult because we did not know anyone personally who had done this before," Chung said. "Everything seemed daunting and impossible. Being teenagers, we met people along the way who seemed very surprised that we were doing this, but after talking to them and explaining to them that we were dedicated to doing this, they helped us with the legal paperwork, with setting up our bank account, et cetera." Through CURE, the Fairmont juniors are able to support cancer research by organizing fundraisers and at the same time reach out to their peers. They've conducted a few events on campus, including the most recent Dress 4 a CURE, a modified, free-dress fundraiser at Fairmont Preparatory. The experience not only bolsters their notion of how one individual, or in this case two, can make a difference, but it also awakens their fellow students to the concept of empowerment and change.

"I am the kind of person that does not like to back down on a challenge, whether it be in sports, academics, violin competitions, or this," Chung said. "I put in everything that I can, with the vision in my mind of a time in the future when I will have achieved my dream, my goal, my purpose." The pair currently is planning a large, off-campus fundraiser, Concerts4Cancer, to take place in Anaheim's Pearson Park Amphitheater Friday, May 15, featuring R&B and hip-hop performers. Proceeds will benefit the American Association of Cancer Research and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, among other organizations.

"Serving a co-president with my partner, Esther, helped me to accomplish my dream to effectively help people in need throughout the world," Nyunoya said. "CURE allows me to raise money to donate to cancer research centers and it has given me a hope that ordinary high school students could have an impact on lives of others." Formed this year, CURE "seeks to financially contribute to societies all around the world involved in research for the cure for cancer," as the girls wrote in their mission statement. With the help of some friends and siblings, the six-person CURE team, has raised more than $3,000. They plan to raise $20,000 at their concert in May.