Horace Mann junior fights breast cancer

In 2012, Horace Mann junior Ander Legaspi lost his mother to breast cancer, on one of his last days of school. 

“I witnessed the strongest woman I have ever met undergo excruciating cancer treatments without success,” he said. 

His mother’s struggle motivated Ander and his sister Camila to get involved in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative, through the American Cancer Society. Since 2012, the two have raised over $150,000. 

“People ask for money all the time, and I guess in a way we’re desensitized to all these charity events,” he said. “But what happened to me is something I never imagined would happen. People saw how horrible breast cancer is…. And saw that [the loss] affected a very normal kid.”

This  year, the teen has raised $49,480. Each year, fundraising leads up to a five-mile breast cancer awareness walk in Central Park, called Making Strides of Central Park. 

The funds raised will go toward transportation to and from treatment for cancer patients, lodging for women and their families during their treatment times and cancer research. 

On Dec. 9, Ander received a Certificate Award from the American Cancer Society at Horace Mann for his fundraising efforts. 

At this year’s walk, Ander was joined by family, friends and a fellow member of the wrestling team whose mother had also passed away from breast cancer. 

To contribute to Ander’s fundraising efforts, visit http://www.main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=62564&pg=team&team_id=1697276.