The
Gryphon Gazette
Februrary 2016
•
The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School
• Volume XIV, Issue IV
Photos: Ms. Sarah Cowan Adam’s Army has currently raised over $150,000 for St. Jude, $100,000 of which was raised at the St. Jude Marathon. Adam has received support from friends and family throughout this entire journey.
Cancer is no excuse
Adam Cruthirds’ life is a ‘nonstop grind’ Kendall LoCascio ’17
Senior Adam Cruthirds walked
13.1 miles at the St. Jude marathon arm-in-arm with his friends, pumped with chemotherapy, adrenaline and the knowledge that he had a major surgery the next morning, but he crossed the finish line anyway. This was just another average day for Adam Cruthirds. Adam, a senior at St. George’s, was diagnosed with leukemia at
the outset of his junior year. Since his diagnosis, he has inspired others with his story, impacted the St. George’s community and raised approximately $150,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, all while courageously battling cancer. Imagine trying to learn pre-calculus without upper school math teachers Ms. Page McMullen or Mr. Jimmy Oxsalida. It’s a terrifying thought to many students, but
Adam did just that last year. “I think I was one of the firstever patients to be learning pre-cal because most of them are learning addition or subtraction,” Adam said. Keeping up with school was an intimidating task, but his teachers jumped on his side and helped him. “Ms. Vasil would come to the hospital sometimes. She was so nice.” If anyone thinks they have an excuse to complain about school
stress, it’s Adam. He managed to maintain good grades and squeeze in AP classes, all while receiving treatments at St. Jude several times a week. “[Keeping up with school] was definitely hard because I was learning new stuff, but I was learning it all at St. Jude,” Adam said. “They have a school program underground, literally below the first floor, that I went to every day for at least an hour.”
Senior Sophia Quesada said she is impressed with Adam’s determination and how he manages to balance everything while staying dedicated. “He’ll have a doctor’s appointment at eight in the morning, and then he will come to school for like a period, and then go back to the hospital.” Quesada said. “He finds time for everything.”
Features
Entertainment
Opinion
Top Stories Sports
News • New arts buildings await decisions, fundraising (p.2)
•
A man and his megaphone (p.5)
• Gun control debate is less • I saved animals for a polarizing than you think (p.6)
week (p.8)
Cont. on Page 7
• Valentine’s Day is for me and you (p.10)