By Elena Perri • Posted January 23, 2026

Those who have survived cancer know firsthand how painful and frightening that journey can be.

Joyce Szczurek, a senior at St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls in Philadelphia, and Colleen Kean, the school’s director of institutional advancement, consider themselves “teal sisters” because they are both ovarian cancer survivors.

Forming a Cancer Awareness Club at St. Hubert’s surfaced during a conversation the pair had before a local TV interview they participated in last spring to talk about their cancer experiences. They were also promoting the annual Sandy Sprint, which the Sandy Rollman Foundation sponsors in Philadelphia.

“When we were in the green room, I asked Joyce if she thought this would be something that students would be interested in,” said Kean.

She received an enthusiastic response from Szczurek, who expressed her desire to recruit fellow students to join the club during the next school year.

A few weeks before the new school year began, Kean learned that junior Emily Welsch had recently undergone radiation treatments for thyroid cancer and lymph node cancer. When Kean mentioned the club idea to Welsch, she wanted to join Szczurek in leading the club.

Kean then helped establish the club at the school, and she has been serving as the club’s moderator since this past October.

The new Cancer Awareness Club, known as the Hope Squad, completed its first successful fundraiser, Coins of Comfort, last month, raising $1,000 to donate to the families of an 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-boy battling brain cancer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The club has partnered with Bringing Hope Home, a local nonprofit organization, for help with identifying families who need financial assistance.

The students presented the money to Brieanne Repp, school program and external events manager at Bringing Hope Home, during a holiday party at St. Hubert’s on Dec. 18.

Kean said the coin collection turned into a friendly competition among senior homerooms.

“A4, which happens to be Joyce’s homeroom, they all supported her with this fundraiser,” she said. “They brought in handfuls and handfuls of coins.”

Kean added that faculty and staff “stepped up to make a difference for the families this holiday season.”

Welsch, who had completed radiation treatment at CHOP this past September, wanted to help a young person at the hospital.

“She was adamant about wanting to help a child at CHOP,” Kean said. “Joyce was on board with that too.”

The fledgling club has approximately 40 members, and they are working on more ways they can support cancer patients.

In February, the students will be collecting coloring books, playing cards, and other items to put in decorated shoeboxes for young patients at CHOP.

“They’re excited that they’re helping,” Kean said. “I don’t think they fully understand the difference they are making.”

Kean explained that the club is going to partner with the Sandy Rollman Foundation’s Sandy Sprint this spring.

“The past three years, Joyce has sold teal ribbons and bracelets here, and all the money goes to her team,” she said. “We hope to have a St. Hubert’s team participating.”

Kean, who also is a breast cancer survivor, was impressed with what the club was able to accomplish with its first fundraiser.

“The club is small, but they proved with determination and hope that they can really make a difference,” she said. “The Coins of Comfort Challenge started out as something fun within the whole school, but the girls in the club saw the difference that they made.”

Kean noted that the club’s fundraising goal was $200, but they ended up raising $1,000, enough money to help two families.

“I’m very proud of them, and it just sets the stage for what they’re going to do the rest of the school year,” she added. “I hope this starts a lifelong journey of them giving back and knowing that they have the power to make a difference.”