14-year-old CEO fights cancer with style
POULSBO, Wash. - A 14-year-old CEO is taking on the hardest job on the planet - curing cancer.
Poulsbo's Greer Gates started a jewelry-making business with one purpose: to fund cancer research.
And the 9th-grader has recently partnered with some of the country's top cancer fighters - researchers at the University of Washington.
You won't find her at the lab, but you will soon find her handmade jewelry at a trunk show at the UW medical center's gift shop.
Greer is trying to cure cancer with style.
"It has a meaning, but it's also fashionable," she says.
She calls her collection "Jewels of Hope."
Her passion began when she was 7 years old when she learned a dear family friend Nancy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
She wanted to do something - and she's been making and selling jewelry ever since.
Each piece has a tiny turtle - Nancy's favorite. Every penny earned is donated to fund cancer research.
In January she began giving all her proceeds to fund cancer research at the University of Washington.
"People like Greer and my patients are my inspirations that keep you going," says UW oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Swisher.
So far, Greer has raised $21,000 in jewelry sales.
"My goal is to find a cure for ovarian cancer - and any cancer - but I know that will take millions and billions of dollars, so that's why I'm not going to give up," she says.
Dr. Swisher says, "If we can understand why ovarian cancer starts - and who it's going to start in - then we can prevent it from every happening. And that's what some of our research is towards."
In January, Greer learned how ugly cancer can be when her friend Nancy died from complications associated with ovarian cancer. Greer lost a friend, but Nancy left her with a lesson for life.
Perseverance, to set a goal and keep working towards it, 'cause if it really means something to you, it will keep going," says Greer.
Greer's bracelets sell for $12 or less and will be available at the UW later this year. She also sells jewelry through her website, www.myjewelsofhope.com.
Poulsbo's Greer Gates started a jewelry-making business with one purpose: to fund cancer research.
And the 9th-grader has recently partnered with some of the country's top cancer fighters - researchers at the University of Washington.
You won't find her at the lab, but you will soon find her handmade jewelry at a trunk show at the UW medical center's gift shop.
Greer is trying to cure cancer with style.
"It has a meaning, but it's also fashionable," she says.
She calls her collection "Jewels of Hope."
Her passion began when she was 7 years old when she learned a dear family friend Nancy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
She wanted to do something - and she's been making and selling jewelry ever since.
Each piece has a tiny turtle - Nancy's favorite. Every penny earned is donated to fund cancer research.
In January she began giving all her proceeds to fund cancer research at the University of Washington.
"People like Greer and my patients are my inspirations that keep you going," says UW oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Swisher.
So far, Greer has raised $21,000 in jewelry sales.
"My goal is to find a cure for ovarian cancer - and any cancer - but I know that will take millions and billions of dollars, so that's why I'm not going to give up," she says.
Dr. Swisher says, "If we can understand why ovarian cancer starts - and who it's going to start in - then we can prevent it from every happening. And that's what some of our research is towards."
In January, Greer learned how ugly cancer can be when her friend Nancy died from complications associated with ovarian cancer. Greer lost a friend, but Nancy left her with a lesson for life.
Perseverance, to set a goal and keep working towards it, 'cause if it really means something to you, it will keep going," says Greer.
Greer's bracelets sell for $12 or less and will be available at the UW later this year. She also sells jewelry through her website, www.myjewelsofhope.com.
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