Donations sought to help leukemia, lymphoma research and survivors

Many mothers look forward to the day their daughters will have a sweet-16 birthday or graduate from high school. Christal Ruiz is no different, with the exception that she hopes, and no longer assumes, that anything that is supposed to happen will happen.

Ruiz, an Atwater resident, is an ambassador for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which will hold its America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride event June 5. Thousands of cyclists come out to bike 100 miles around Lake Tahoe in support of finding and funding a cure for cancer.

The goal is to raise a minimum of $2,500. As of Monday, Ruiz had $1,200 left to raise by May 20. Eighty percent of all proceeds go directly to research.

“We’re not asking people for money; we’re asking them for hope,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz’s daughter, Aliza Aguirre, will be turning 11 on Friday, this year marking her fifth year in remission. When she was in kindergarten, Aliza was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.

Although Aliza is in remission, there is a better chance the cancer will return rather than stay away. Her cancer was expected to come back three years ago, making this event even more important to Ruiz, because she has been trying to do all she can to secure her daughter’s future.

Ruiz said raising funds means everything to her and Aliza because, if the cancer does come back, there is not much left that can be done for her.

“I can’t take back the pain that my daughter went through, but I can do this for her,” Ruiz said.

If the goal of $2,500 is raised, Ruiz and Aliza will shave their heads and donate their hair to make wigs for children. Whichever donor makes the largest contribution to the cause will have the chance to be the one to shave their heads.

Everyone who donates also will receive a handwritten thank-you note and a picture of the duo’s shaved heads, as well as a receipt for tax purposes if needed. Donations can be given at http://pages.teamintraining.org/sac/ambbr16/cruizx.

“It’s a really amazing feeling the first time I shaved my head,” Ruiz said. “It was the first time I felt really beautiful. Bald is beautiful.”

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Donations sought to help leukemia, lymphoma research and survivors."