Having seen the good work done by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Enumclaw’s Haley Johnson now wants to help raise money for the Seattle organization.
And she’s calling upon her home town to help.
A 2014 graduate of Enumclaw High, Johnson is now a freshman at the University of Washington and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was selected for the Miss Greek pageant, a year-long, philanthropic event which has her raising money for Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The effort will culminate in the spring where she will represent her sorority through a personality walk, a talent event and a speech, all combined with the sum she collected. Each young woman in the pageant has committed to raising at least $7,000.
On average, the event generates about $60,000 annually for the cancer center.
Johnson has a personal reason for joining the cancer fight.
“I have seen how Fred Hutch truly impacts lives through my aunt Tricia Johnson,” she wrote in an email. “She has battled the horrible disease of cancer for over 10 years of her life and through it all remained positive and optimistic about the future. She is a cancer survivor and the biggest inspiration in my life.
“I took on the challenge of fundraising for Miss Greek in her honor, to give back to an organization that gave her life back to her.”
Johnson is a lifelong resident of Enumclaw she admits to missing the small-town feel while away at school.
“Gaining support from this community would not only make a huge impact in my fundraising efforts,” she wrote, “but I would truly appreciate the fact that Enumclaw loves me as much as I love it.”
Johnson is aiming to raise $10,000 by the April deadline. Those wishing to help are encouraged to visit her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/haleyformissgreek. Donations also can be made through her personal website, http://getinvolved.fhcrc.org/goto/HaleyForMissGreek, where she also posts personal information about her quest.
The UW freshman also has several fundraising events in the works.
• She plans to host a bake sale at Johnson’s Home and Garden in Maple Valley during her winter break and, in January, host a fundraising night at HopJacks in Maple Valley. Details are still coming together and will be posted to her Facebook page.
• A relative works for the jewelry company Stella and Dot and has agreed to help. The link is www.stelladot.com/ts/oyn36. Sales made by Dec. 21 will arrive before Christmas Eve and a percentage of sales will be donated to Johnson’s fundraising campaign.
