ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s a full circle moment for Nefentee Mayers. The former Rochester Prep student is now a teacher at the charter school. She’s volunteering at a blood drive that’s held in memory of her friend, Samaya Cameron.

“We had our little moments,” said Mayers. “Talking, laughing [and] giggling. She was always a bright light in my day.”

Cameron graduated from Rochester Prep in 2020. She went to Buffalo State University, planning to major in fashion design. But during her freshman year, she died from complications of sickle cell anemia.

“Samaya cared about everyone around her,” said Mayers. “You never would’ve realized behind closed doors she was fighting with this.” 

Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells. Blood transfusions are a critical treatment for the disease and the reason the Cameron family started this blood drive in Samaya’s memory. 

“[I’m] grateful for everybody coming to give blood,” said Samaya’s sister, Maya Cameron. “It helps families like ours going through it.”

A student herself at Rochester Prep, Maya Cameron says growing up with Samaya was fun and full of laughter. She shares the advice she thinks Samaya would give her for senior year. 

“She'd say to never forget to prioritize school because she never did,” said Cameron. 

The American Red Cross hopes to collect 40 units of blood at the drive — a goal it’s expected to exceed. 

For Mayers and the Cameron family, it’s a small part they can do to keep Samaya's memory alive. 

“She was able to give herself to everyone,” said Mayers. “I wanted to come back and do this for her.”