Students helping students is the concept behind Go Grey London, an organization that raises awareness for brain tumours and funds to support young brain tumour survivors.

Kayla DeAngelis, a Western University student, founded Go Grey London in 2021 after realizing no organization on campus supported the brain tumour community. With Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s head office in London, Ont., it seemed only natural that a local student-run organization would follow suit.

“I started to plan out what this could look like and what the mission would be,” says Kayla, of her early days with Go Grey London. “At first, it was more about bringing awareness to brain tumours and brain cancer.”

Giving back to other youths

Kayla reached out to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada to see where she could lend a hand. She decided to focus on backing BTFC’s Youth Education Awards—grants that help young brain tumour survivors achieve their dreams through post-secondary education.

Young brain tumour survivors can face unique challenges when pursuing post-secondary education, from long-term health effects due to their tumour to financial strains that may come with treatment and recovery.

So, Kayla set out to fundraise for the awards, beginning by collecting bottles after homecoming. She created a Google form where students could schedule their bottle pick-up, and she herself delivered the bottles to the beer store for a refund. The following year, she partnered with a fraternity and received a refund for their collected bottles.

All the while, Kayla began recruiting others to join the cause. Through cold calling and online messaging, she reached out to students in the science- and business-related fields who she thought might be interested. From there, she and her team got to work spreading the word.

Over the past three years, Go Grey London has hosted various fundraisers, such as selling homecoming merchandise and roses for Valentine’s Day, hosting a Spikeball tournament, organizing a 5 km walk and run and other events within the London community.

Funding the organization’s first award

Those efforts paid off when Go Grey London was able to fund its first Youth Education Award, granted to a student diagnosed with a pituitary macroadenoma at age 15.

“It was incredible to be able to donate the award alongside Go Grey’s committed team members, many of whom had been a part of the club since its inception,” says Kayla.

What’s next for Go Grey London

With graduation this spring, Kayla focuses on what comes next for Go Grey London and on what the organization has achieved these past four years.

“Students can achieve remarkable things when united by a common goal.”

Go Grey London is working on its upcoming event to donate another Youth Education Award this spring. The organization has also set up a fundraising page for those who want to contribute.

For more on Go Grey London, please see the organization’s website, Instagram page and fundraising link.