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| Family of Leonidas |
We invite you to join us for the 5th year of Gracey’s Harvest of Hope 501(c)(3) as we support The family of Leonidas and Josh Schiffman's Lab dedicated to cancer research.
Josh is a renowned pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Primary Children's Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute. Dr. Shiffman's research focuses on the development of childhood cancer and he runs a translational genomics laboratory to identify which children are at risk for cancer and why.
Leonidas Nkurunziza grew up in poverty stricken Burundi. Through the refugee program he, his wife Goreth, and 6 small children were able to come to the United States in February of 2008. In December of 2010, his wife unexpectedly died leaving him to care for the 6 children himself.
In February of this year, Leonidas also unexpectedly died from complications of pneumonia, leaving the 6 children alone. There are no local relatives to help so a wonderful group of friends and neighbors have been helping them. Fortunately, the oldest son, age 20 has recently been granted guardianship. While they know that the financial strain is great, they are very aware that this is what their parents desired for them.
Leonidas was a loving, happy and cheerful man. He was a dedicated Father. He spent countless hours serving others here and in Burundi. He had hopes and dreams for his children here that living in Africa wouldn’t provide.
Just like all of us, Goreth’s greatest dream was to see that each of her children would receive an education. The money raised through Gracey’s Harvest of Hope will help the children with their expenses while they focus on an education.
Please help us keep their dreams alive so that their children may have successful and happy lives by easing some of their financial burdens a reality!
