CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte teenager is a cancer survivor of 15 years.
The disease took his eye when he was just a toddler, but that isn't stopping him from achieving his dreams.
[LINK: Charlotte Relay for Life]
Jaelyn, a 17-year-old who plays football at North Mecklenburg High School, wondered if he was going to play the sport he loves again.
Jaelyn Gray is turning his loss into a new goal by raising money for cancer research.
“I had retinoblastoma,” Jaelyn said. “Basically, it's a type of cancer that you can have in your eye.”
When he was a year old, doctors removed Jaelyn's left eye.
Jaelyn goes for regular checkups. He considers it his duty as a survivor to teach others about cancer and fight for a cure.
That’s why he’s taking part in the American Cancer Society Charlotte Relay for Life this weekend at First Ward Park in uptown.
“He's a cancer survivor of 15 years,” said Tunisia Harris, Jaelyn’s mom. “He's been very active in our church, the park ministries. He ushers there. He was in Boy Scouts.”
Uniting more than 3 million people in 27 countries, it’s the world's largest fundraising event to save lives from cancer.
“I'm involved in Relay for Life because I feel like it's a point to give back,” Jaelyn said. “My goal is to raise $10,000 and I just want to give it all back to the people that are diagnosed with cancer. I feel like it's important that they should be helped.”
Harris said it’s her son’s purpose to make a difference.
“I'm thankful that God still has him here on Earth,” Harris said. “Sometimes he beats himself up about it like he doesn't understand why he's still here sometimes, but I know God has a plan for him.”
Jaelyn is making sure the plan involves helping others.
This fall, Jaelyn will begin a junior college program at Palmetto Prep Academy.
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