-Svetla Tomanova

In 2020, everyone was bracing for the unknown enemy: COVID. Sam Sachs, Old Donation School (ODS) and his family were grappling with the news of his diagnosis: T-cell leukemia. What followed were numerous intensive care unit and oncology hospitalizations – nine in total. He was only 12 at the time, but he had his family by his side, while other children, he observed, were there alone.

“This all started in the hospital when I saw a 1-year-old child without her family,” said Sam.

Her door had to be open so that she could have interactions with the nursing staff. Having his parents gave him the will to fight, he said. At that moment, Sam decided to find a way to have children with their parents in the hospital all the time.

“When Sam was in the fight of his life, his caring for others was paramount in his thoughts,” said Jane McClellan, ODS counselor and Sam’s Warriors advisor. “Sam’s positive attitude and his focus on a plan to help others may have been the key ingredient for his healthy outcome.”

Soon after he was cancer-free, Sam’s Warriors was born. There was no doubt that the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) would be the recipient of any funds that the club would raise.

Committed to making a positive impact, Sam organized several fundraisers such as such as pie-in-the-face challenges and a recent skating event. He found a way to include both children and parents in raising money to reunite families in the hospital.

Fundraisers take a lot of time and effort, he said. Sam is thankful for ODS teachers who advertised the announcements to spread the word. Also, there is a dedicated group of Sam’s Warriors club members who meet regularly to help plan the fundraisers.

“We hosted the first round allowing students to pie ODS staff, which raised about $7,000,” Sam said.

The success of the event and the inspiration from the popular Ice Bucket Challenge propelled the initiative onto social media, where they challenged their friends and families.

Last month, their recent fundraiser attracted 200 attendees and raised $4,600.

“Sam is an inspiration to kids and adults,” said ODS Principal Joel Guldenschuh. “I’m glad we can support his work as a school community. He has encountered more obstacles than I can imagine, and he handles it and uses it to do good in the community.”

The initiative is already helping children in CHKD: Sam’s Warriors had raised about $100,000. It provides paid time off for parents or enables families to hire babysitters, to ensure they can be with their children during their hospital stay. The goal is one day to start in-hospital childcare to continue to harness the power of will to make a difference.

Sam may be moving on from ODS, but he is confident “there are enthusiastic and dedicated kids who will carry on with this club.”  He plans to bring this club to his new school – Cape Henry Collegiate.

For more on how to help Sam’s Warriors initiatives, visit this page.