Jun 24, 2024 By Paul Paterra 3 min read

Camryn Hondru is motivated to make a difference.

That’s why the 17-year old, who just completed her junior year at South Fayette High School, is a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries Program.

She also was motivated by classmate and family friend Tyler Schepis, and his recent battle with stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“We run a team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,” Hondru explained, referring to the visionaries program fundraiser. “I got to be a leader this year. I got to pick my teammates and I also got to pick who would lead with me.”

She chose Schepis, who she said is doing great, and sophomore Taylor Peters to be her co-leaders.

“I like to be in charge and be a leader,” Hondru said. “I asked Tyler to be a leader with me because he has such a personal touch with it. Seeing him go through it was hard, because I couldn’t really do a lot. Once Tyler was diagnosed and watching him go through it, that really sparked me. I watched him struggle through cancer because there really wasn’t anything I could fully do to make him feel better. I became really invested in the research aspect of the cause. It just meant a lot to me to lead the team.”

Hondru raised $5,000 on her own as a team member her sophomore year.

The Student Visionaries of the Year program is a development endeavor for high school students in which they embark on a seven-week mission to create a world without blood cancers.

Between Feb. 2 and March 22, the team known as Cancer Conquerors went about raising as much money as possible for LLS. Fundraising events were held at Black Dog Wine Co., as well as Primanti’s and Chipotle. Companies were asked for donations, raffle baskets were sold and a stay at the Hondru family’s house in Deep Creek, Md., was part of a fundraiser. Additional money was raised through an Easter egg hunt.

Hondru and Schepis joined former Pittsburgh Steeler Arthur Moats on his podcast to discuss their efforts and their goal of putting an end to cancer.

Cancer Conquerors raised about $50,000 from more than 400 donors. For reaching that mark, the team earned a hero award from LLS. The Pittsburgh region had 16 LLS Student Visionaries teams in 2024 consisting of 155 members who raised $802,743 during the seven-week span.

Team leaders also could apply for Mission Awards by writing an essay. Hondru focused her essay on research for blood cancer. She received a Mission Award from LLS and a $250 college scholarship for her effort.

For her efforts focusing on research, Hondru also received the Research Pillar Award as part of the Visionaries of the Year competition. Research is one of three mission pillars the candidates can champion, along with patent education and support and policy and advocacy.

“It feels super rewarding,” Hondru said. “It makes me really happy to know that this money will go to people who need it more than anybody else. It’s really cool to think that just 16 kids raised $50,000.”