SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Sunrise Elementary School in Spokane Valley hosted a Vitalant blood drive on Wednesday in honor of Callie Anderson. Callie was a former student who passed away from cancer in August.
Blood donations helped Callie and other students during their fight against cancer, and today the community honored Callie’s life by giving back.
As participants boarded the Vitalant bus, they were greeted with her photo, a list of her favorites, and a bowl of her favorite candy: Nerds Gummy Clusters.
“She was a friend to every single person in that class. I had a couple students who just needed someone to be their person, and Callie was their person. She never wanted anything other than just to be like everybody else,” said Linda Stumbough, Callie’s fifth grade teacher.
Callie was diagnosed with cancer when she was only two years old. She was 11 when she passed away. The community showed up to donate and be brave, just like Callie.
“It’s such a simple way that you can significantly help someone else, someone like Callie, you know, kids dealing with cancer or anybody dealing with any accidents. It’s a really important way to help your community. It’s an easy way to help save lives,” said Greg Strange a parent of two kids at Sunrise Elementary and a frequent a blood donor.