Her Little Brother Has Cancer. She And 3 Friends In Ridgewood Raised $1,600 For Charity

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Four students at Orchard Elementary school in Ridgewood — including a girl whose brother has cancer — wanted to do something "worthwhile."

So they set to work crafting bracelets they could sell to raise money for pediatric cancer.

Fifth graders Nina Pehlivanian, Aleksandra Fitzgerald, Annika Ginde, and Shaila Venkatraman created bracelets with a gold bead, representing the color for Pediatric Cancer awareness, and brought them to the school’s annual talent show.

Selling for $5 each, the bracelets sold out by intermission, resulting in a $1,300 donation for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

“I have a brother with cancer and it’s hard,” said fifth grader and bracelet entrepreneur Nina Pehlivania. Nina’s brother Armen, a first grader at the school, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in April of 2023.

“Our family has been inspired by all of the courageous children who are battling cancer including our son,” added Nina and Armen’s mother Sona Pehlivanian.

Armen returned to school this year, and although additional treatments lie ahead, he is proud to be the inspiration for the fundraiser.

“Buying just one of these bracelets may help fund the important research to find better treatments,” said Nina.

According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, more than 15,000 children between the ages of birth and 19 years of age — or about 1 in 285 — are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. While survival rates for many types of childhood cancer have improved, cancer remains the most common cause of death by disease for children in America.

During their recent February break from school, Nina, Aleksandra, Annika, and Shaila came up with the idea to create and sell bracelets to raise money for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

They spent their vacation days hard at work on not only the bracelets, but a presentation to share with Orchard School principal Mary Ferreri and the fourth and fifth graders at the school.

“To have this idea come to fruition shows the character and spirit of these students,” said Ferreri. “Orchard has a strong tradition of student-led initiatives and responsibilities, and these fifth graders have set a fine example for all of our students.”

Nina's family couldn’t be more proud.

Said Pehlivanian, “We are so proud of the students that have demonstrated the true power of compassion and volunteerism for the cause of pediatric cancer research. Every donation generates awareness and helps fund important research to find better treatments and cures for tomorrow's children.”