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Schools

El Toro High Teen Honored for Anti-Cancer Crusade

Gabby Gregory, a Lake Forest teen, was recently recognized for founding her schools' Team Thomas chapter with the Savannah's Heart Award.

For Gabby Gregory, the fight against pediatric cancer is personal.

The El Toro High School sophomore was devastated last June when her close family friend, 8-year-old Thomas Johnson, died after a long battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting the muscle tissues.

Gregory was determined to honor the memory of the boy who loved skateboarding and playing the guitar, the boy who was “like the little brother I always wanted,” she said.

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For several years, friends of Thomas Johnson had formed “Team Thomas,” the largest team in the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's annual Cinco de Mayo half-marathon event that raises money for cancer research. Gregory decided to open a chapter of that Team Thomas—complete with its signature orange T-shirts—at her high school last fall.

Gregory’s efforts spawned El Toro’s Team Thomas club, which has grown to more than 100 students. This year, the club raised more than $1,500 for the Cinco de Mayo race, with more than 60 club members participating in the run.

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At Christmas, the club "adopted" 17 children with special needs and gifted each with personal presents and thoughtful, individual notes for each child.

Team Thomas members have also logged hundreds of volunteer hours doing service projects for the Irvine-based PCRF and running bake sales, lemonade stands and information booths.

“Thomas started Team Thomas when he was diagnosed. When he passed away last summer, I felt like I had to do something to carry on his spirit. We just wanted to share his optimism and faith,” Gregory said.

This month, Gregory was honored for founding El Toro’s Team Thomas as one of three students countywide to receive a Savannah’s Heart Award, which recognizes Orange County children or teens who perform selfless acts.

The award is named for Savannah Sachen, who died of a rare form of heart cancer in 2007 at age 8. Savannah’s parents, Lisa and Joe Sachen, founded a nonprofit organization called Savannah’s Organic Ranch, which works to educate the community about the benefits of organic foods.

Kathryn Scheidler, activities director at El Toro High School, said Gregory especially deserves the accolade because she is more interested in doing good works than getting credit for them.

“Gabby is extremely passionate about things that she believes in. When she gets behind something, she just does not stop,” said Scheidler, who advises El Toro’s Associated Student Body leadership team. Gregory is also sophomore class treasurer.

“I only heard about the award that Gabby got because I read it in the paper,” Scheidler said. “She doesn’t toot her own horn. She’s very humble, just the nicest kid.”

Gina Crofts, office manager at the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, said that she was impressed by Gregory's ability to rally students from all grades to her cause, even though she is still an underclassman.

“She’s a great team leader. She’s sharing her passion with classmates and friends,” Crofts said. “It’s nice to see the youth dedicated to this mission.”

Gregory, a Lake Forest native, said she hopes to someday attend UC Davis and to eventually work as a humanitarian, “to travel the world and help people.” She's a youth leader at her church and said she is inspired by her Catholic faith to help others. A busy student, she also ran cross country and track for El Toro this year.

The successes of El Toro’s Team Thomas club are the result of the hard work of many students, including its other officers—Vice Presidents Lily Ingrassia and Tory Edwards, Secretary Rachelle Chin and Treasurer Caleb Ostgaard—Gregory is quick to point out.

“The Savannah’s Heart Award was really for all of us. I was very surprised we won, and I definitely want to thank my team, because it’s all of them who made it happen,” Gregory said.

Looking forward, Gregory said Team Thomas plans to be just as active next year, adopting a needy family at the holidays and raising money for PCRF in honor of Thomas Johnson, who she said she remembers as a “little skateboarder” who loved to play his Nintendo Wii and taught her games on his iPod Touch.

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