Twins Nicholas and Gabby Conjelko with cousin Maia Amador, 8, share a moment during Fourth of July holiday weekend. A benefit walk to raise funds for Srtides for Sarcoma is Friday, July 26 at the Greenwood Amphitheater. Maia has Ewing’s Sarcoma.
(Submitted photo)
PUBLISHED JULY 17, 2024
By Al Stilley
Editor
“We are doing all this because of our love for Maia.”
With those heartfelt words, twin brother-and-sister Nicholas and Gabriella “Gabby” Conjelko have launched an aggressive fund-raising campaign and inaugural event to educate the public about sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and to raise the level of research.
These two pre-med students from the Southside have formed a new non-profit Strides for Sarcoma with its inaugural fund-raising event, a short walkathon at the amphitheater in Greenwood Friday, July 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. July also is Sarcoma Awareness Month.
This event is open to the public, for all ages. Participants receive an event t-shirt, a brief explanation of Sarcoma and enjoy live music, food, games, silent auction, games, and a mile walk.
“This is the first time we have attempted to have an event that the community can participate in and donate to the fight against sarcoma,” Gabby said. “We want this event to grow and the donations to grow in future years for research that can help those afflicted by sarcoma.”
The July 26 event caps the twins’ initial efforts to launch Strides for Sarcoma since their cousin Maia Amador, 8, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, two years ago. She is a third grader at St. Jude Catholic School and is undergoing treatment at Riley Children’s Hospital.
“She is a ball of energy,” Gabby said of her cousin who has undergone chemotherapy treatments.
Sarcoma is a cancerous tumor that develops in bone or soft tissue and makes up 15% of childhood cancer diagnoses, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are 70 sublevels of Sarcoma, including Maia’s diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma that develops among children and young teens.
Two years ago, Maia was an active girl, but she had a persistent pain in her side. Further examinations showed that Maia had tumors on her sixth rib. After treatment, Maia was cancer free, but her sarcoma has returned.
On their own, Nicholas and Gabby formed Strides for Sarcoma. She is president and he is vice-president, sister Lexy Conjelko, secretary, attorney Ann Schneider treasurer, and their mother Julie Conjelko, executive board member. Nicholas and Gabriella are 2022 graduates of Roncalli High School. He is a junior and pre-med major at Indiana University. She is a junior majoring in neurobiology at Purdue University.
“Our family has been great throughout all this to get this not-for-profit started,” Nicholas said. “They never questioned what we wanted to do and jumped right in.
”Maia’s illness also has sparked a career interest in Gabriella. She is an intern through a grant at Riley Children’s Hospital with Dr. Ed Greenfield in oncology, a leading proponent of research in Ewing’s Sarcoma. Ironically, they did not know each other until she was accepted for the grant.
“It is a real value and also unique to be able to see the family side and the clinical side of cancer,” Gabby said of her internship.
Meanwhile, brother and sister are working together for a successful fundraiser in Greenwood with the launch of Strides for Sarcoma. The amphitheater is between Main Street and Surina Way and Washington and Meridian streets in the heart of Greenwood.
The twins also are on a career path to help even more youngsters in the future.
“Upon graduation from undergrad, we hope to attend medical school where we can gain the knowledge and skills to further help those affected by cancer and other ailments,” they said in a joint statement.
To donate and register for the upcoming Strides for Sarcoma Walk in Greenwood July 26, visit: https://www.stridesforsarcoma.com.
By Al Stilley
Editor
“We are doing all this because of our love for Maia.”
With those heartfelt words, twin brother-and-sister Nicholas and Gabriella “Gabby” Conjelko have launched an aggressive fund-raising campaign and inaugural event to educate the public about sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and to raise the level of research.
These two pre-med students from the Southside have formed a new non-profit Strides for Sarcoma with its inaugural fund-raising event, a short walkathon at the amphitheater in Greenwood Friday, July 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. July also is Sarcoma Awareness Month.
This event is open to the public, for all ages. Participants receive an event t-shirt, a brief explanation of Sarcoma and enjoy live music, food, games, silent auction, games, and a mile walk.
“This is the first time we have attempted to have an event that the community can participate in and donate to the fight against sarcoma,” Gabby said. “We want this event to grow and the donations to grow in future years for research that can help those afflicted by sarcoma.”
The July 26 event caps the twins’ initial efforts to launch Strides for Sarcoma since their cousin Maia Amador, 8, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, two years ago. She is a third grader at St. Jude Catholic School and is undergoing treatment at Riley Children’s Hospital.
“She is a ball of energy,” Gabby said of her cousin who has undergone chemotherapy treatments.
Sarcoma is a cancerous tumor that develops in bone or soft tissue and makes up 15% of childhood cancer diagnoses, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are 70 sublevels of Sarcoma, including Maia’s diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma that develops among children and young teens.
Two years ago, Maia was an active girl, but she had a persistent pain in her side. Further examinations showed that Maia had tumors on her sixth rib. After treatment, Maia was cancer free, but her sarcoma has returned.
On their own, Nicholas and Gabby formed Strides for Sarcoma. She is president and he is vice-president, sister Lexy Conjelko, secretary, attorney Ann Schneider treasurer, and their mother Julie Conjelko, executive board member. Nicholas and Gabriella are 2022 graduates of Roncalli High School. He is a junior and pre-med major at Indiana University. She is a junior majoring in neurobiology at Purdue University.
“Our family has been great throughout all this to get this not-for-profit started,” Nicholas said. “They never questioned what we wanted to do and jumped right in.
”Maia’s illness also has sparked a career interest in Gabriella. She is an intern through a grant at Riley Children’s Hospital with Dr. Ed Greenfield in oncology, a leading proponent of research in Ewing’s Sarcoma. Ironically, they did not know each other until she was accepted for the grant.
“It is a real value and also unique to be able to see the family side and the clinical side of cancer,” Gabby said of her internship.
Meanwhile, brother and sister are working together for a successful fundraiser in Greenwood with the launch of Strides for Sarcoma. The amphitheater is between Main Street and Surina Way and Washington and Meridian streets in the heart of Greenwood.
The twins also are on a career path to help even more youngsters in the future.
“Upon graduation from undergrad, we hope to attend medical school where we can gain the knowledge and skills to further help those affected by cancer and other ailments,” they said in a joint statement.
To donate and register for the upcoming Strides for Sarcoma Walk in Greenwood July 26, visit: https://www.stridesforsarcoma.com.
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