Memorial Turns It Gold

Turn It Gold is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for childhood cancer research while raising awareness about the disease and its impact on communities. The organization holds events to turn places “gold,” the color that symbolizes childhood cancer, through advocacy events, partnerships, and campaigns. Turn It Gold also has an active online presence that they use to share the stories of brave individuals, hoping to inspire others that a cure is possible. 

At Memorial High School, a few students established a Turn It Gold club dedicated to supporting the national organization through local events among high school students. The 2024-2025 school year will be the second year of the club and students are eager to continue supporting this great cause.

The club regularly organizes events and activities dedicated to spreading awareness about childhood cancer, giving students the opportunity to make a difference in their own community while earning volunteer hours. These include making holiday cards for sick kids, selling gold wristbands at sporting events, and distributing gold ribbons for athletes to wear during games. Additionally, the club has hosted a children’s book donation drive and a softball hit-a-thon to promote advocacy on campus. The hit-a-thon is one of the club’s largest events, and it encourages students to “swing for a cause,” offering a fun environment for them to learn more about childhood cancer and support the club’s fundraising efforts.

Memorial’s sports teams have also embraced the Turn It Gold mantra by incorporating gold into their games. This year, both JV and Varsity volleyball teams wore gold ribbons during their game against Cy-Fair. On October 24th, the Varsity football game against Northbrook was dedicated to spreading childhood cancer awareness and club members sold gold wristbands at Tully Stadium. 

Turn It Gold president Claire Besetsny said “being the president of Turn It Gold has been an amazing experience. It’s been so cool to see so many people come together to support kids and families dealing with childhood cancer. I have learned a lot about planning and leading events, and I love being able to make an impact on the community. I am really excited for all the fun things the club has planned for the upcoming year!”