Unnamed donor helps Lauren Hill top $1 million goal for cancer research

by Vanessa Garcia Rodriguez, | 02 January, 2015

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (Christian Examiner) -- Just before 2014 ended, Lauren Hill, the terminally-ill brain cancer patient again reached one of her final goals -- to raise $1 million for cancer research and The Cure Starts Now by Jan. 1, 2015.

Early Tuesday evening, with $9,000 left to reach the $1 million goal, an anonymous walk-in donor visited the site of the organization's telethon with a donation of $116,000 and a temporary tattoo for the 19-year-old college freshman that read "today is the day."

Diagnosed with DIPG (19-year-old college freshman) shortly after her eighteenth birthday, Hill captured the hearts of the nation when they watched her fulfill a lifelong dream to play on a college basketball court in a Division III game this November. Across the country, people watched as she exceeded doctors expectations and lived past Christmas day.

Now, the nations "Never Give Up" girl has exceeded her $1 million goal to fund a "home-run" cure for cancer research by raising a total of $1,113,419 by New Year's Eve. According to Cincinnati's WCPO The Cure Starts Now Foundation believes a cure to end all cancers can be found through DIPG research.

"It's amazing," Hill said. "To reach it this fast and to have so many people that care enough to donate. Thanks to everybody that is here. Thank you everybody that donated and [everyone who is] still donating. And I hope that donations don't stop with this. Keep on donating to research and keep on helping."

According to Lauren's Fight for the Cure Facebook page, Hill and her family were at a Harlem Globe Trotters game when the two donations that tipped giving over the top materialized.

Hill's mother, Lisa, posted:

" We want to see the Harlem GlobeTrotters this afternoon and had a great time laughing. After we stopped by The Cure Starts Now headquarters to check in on the telethon and while we were there the goal was reached. Thanks to an anonymous donor of $116,000 and a check from the Lawrenceburg American Legion for $13,000 they tipped us over. What a great celebration," she wrote.

" We grabbed something to eat since Lauren was not feeling good when we left headquarters. This was the perfect ending for 2014. Thanks again for all your support, generosity and prayers. Stay safe tomorrow night and have a Happy New Year.

Whatever is next for Hill remains to be seen as she takes each coming day of the new year one at a time. As for the legacy she leaves in 2014, in addition to her many accomplishments in recent months, her local community has voted her 2014 Tri-State Person of the Year .

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