RALEIGH, N.C. — Brave. That's how 9-year-old Harper Harrell can be described. She radiates positivity and is rarely seen without a smile across her face.
She loves cooking, sewing, bike riding and spending time outside. In October 2021, Harrell went from being a student to being a cancer patient. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, one of the most common forms of childhood cancer.
What You Need To Know
- Harper Harrell is a 9-year-old cancer survivor from Durham
- Harrell raised $27,000 for the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Fund
- The cancer fund is a part of the V Foundation for Cancer Research
"I was diagnosed on Oct. 14, and I started treatment the next day. I was in the hospital for about nine days, and I didn't have a lot of fun, but there were some fun parts about it," Harrell said.
During her treatment, Harrell spent a lot of time playing on her Nintendo, entertaining her nurses and making friends with other children on her floor at Duke Children's Hospital.
"Some of them are transplant, some of them are going through similar things to me, but I really have met awesome people from there. The nurses are all amazing, doctors and nurses, everyone is just amazing there," Harrell said.
Being in the hospital made her want to do something to help other children who were experiencing a battle like hers. That's when she discovered the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The foundation was started by former N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano in 1993 shortly before he lost his battle to cancer.
Harrell wears a bracelet every day with the words from Valvano's ESPY speech in 1993, when he announced the foundation.
"This really inspires me — 'Don't give up, don't ever give up,' the Jimmy V speech," Harrell said.
Harrell began fundraising for the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Fund through her Peace Out Cancer T-shirt campaign.
"I sort of drew a ribbon and peace out cancer on a note pad, and I made it a special shirt for kids who are going through treatment and they have port and a way to get chemo into their system. Then my mom and her coworker brought it to life, and I was just amazed, and I was like 'can we please sell this mom?'" Harrell said.
The campaign raised $27,000.
"We didn't expect this many orders to come in, and I'm super happy with what we created," Harrell said in a video thanking people who donated.
Throughout Harrell's battle with cancer, she never lost her bright spirit.
"I’ve done a lot of events and spoken for Duke's Children Hospital, where I go for treatment, stuff like that," Harrell said. "I like to think it's not just bad stuff. It can be for some people, but for me I have fun parts and adventures."
Harrell is now in receiving maintenance therapy to prevent a relapse. She returned to school Jan. 4 for the first time since her October 2021 diagnosis, and she even joined the school choir.
"I just want other kids to know that there can be positive outlooks and you can make your journey fun, by anyway you want to," Harrell said.
While she is no longer selling T-shirts, Harrell is encouraging people to donate to the V Foundation and the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Fund.