The Boston North Cancer Association (BNCA) awarded $3,500 scholarships to two Lynn seniors whose lives have been impacted by the disease.
Dorothy Ezemba of Lynn English High School received the David J. Solimine Sr. Honorary Scholarship given to a college-bound North Shore high schooler who is a cancer survivor or is undergoing treatment.
Ezemba is a varsity basketball player who plans to attend the University of Massachusetts Lowell this fall to study physical therapy. She has overcome many obstacles in her life, including growing up without a mother in foster care and being the victim of a house fire that left her homeless.
Others described her as always smiling and has not let adversities affect her life. Instead, she studies hard in school, plays varsity basketball, has a part-time job and stays out of trouble.
But last spring, Ezemba faced her biggest challenge when she was diagnosed with a rare muscle cancer. Despite a 10-month treatment plan of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, she told her guidance counselor she would be back on the basketball court, graduate high school and attend college.
Her nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital said Ezemba has handled every challenge with grace, dignity and maturity. During treatment, seeing physical therapists help patients inspired her to pursue a career as a physical therapist.
Cameron Greenleaf is a senior at Lynn Classical High School where he is on the baseball and track teams. He intends to major in engineering at University of Massachusetts Lowell in September.
He describes his mother as his biggest supporter who was there for every ball game. Learning she had breast cancer was devastating. He witnessed her determination to fight the disease and overcome it.
But last summer her cancer returned and spread, and in September his mother lost her battle to cancer.
Greenleaf’s mom always told him things will be OK, and to stay strong. While losing his mother and his grandfather to cancer have been painful, he remains hopeful and strong.
He is looking forward to designing things to help change the world one day. Engineering is his passion, inspired since he was a young boy from the Legos his mom bought him.