Brecksville-Broadview Heights students raise over $150K for blood cancer research

by Melissa Martin

School district officials, including Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Principal Kevin Jakub, took time recently to recognize Team Horizon and its spring fundraising efforts, which generated more than $150,000 for Blood Cancer United, formerly known as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Jakub said the three high school students – Madi Lupica, Alexa Zetts and Billy Henn – led the school’s Student Visionaries of the Year campaign this year, competing against several other participating high schools throughout Northeast Ohio. The team rallied approximately 60 additional members of the student body to raise money for blood cancer research over a seven-week period, setting an initial goal of $75,000.

The students surpassed that initial goal in less than two weeks and raised their new goal to $100,000. They again surpassed that goal before the end of the campaign, which wrapped up in March.

By the time Team Horizon was finished, Jakub said, the members raised more than $150,000 on their own, breaking the school record and finishing in the top three out of all 39 Cleveland-area teams that participated in this year’s fundraiser. Together, the region raised more than $2 million to support research, patient programs and families impacted by blood cancers.

“Throughout months of preparation and a fast-paced seven-week fundraising period, these students gained invaluable experience in leadership, organization, public speaking and even meeting with corporate executives – skills that will stay with them long after the campaign is over,” Jakub said. “Our team was exceptional this year, to say the very least.”

Jakub said all three student leaders, as well as those representing other participating school districts across Greater Cleveland, were recognized at a gala where the fundraising totals were celebrated just as much as the impact and dedication behind them.

Savanah Drdek, campaign development manager for Blood Cancer United, attended the presentation before the school board, commending the district and the students who dedicate themselves to the fundraiser every year.

“This year, these students stepped up to the plate, set a goal and crushed it every step of the way,” Drdek, a blood cancer survivor, told the board.

Drdek said Team Horizon was presented with the Impact Award for 2026. That honor is bestowed upon teams that raise $100,000 during the fundraising season. Along with the honor, the team will have a Blood Cancer United research project named after them in the coming months.

Superintendent Jeff Harrison commended the students for their leadership efforts.

“This is such a great project, one that allows us to see the everyday work that happens with our students,” he said. “When you get to interact with individuals like these three students, we know our future is in great hands.”

Photo caption: Team Horizon, spearheaded by Madi Lupica, Billy Henn and Alexa Zetts, took on the school’s Student Visionaries of the Year campaign this year and raised more than $150,000. Photo submitted.