SCCC student awarded scholarship

Purple Pansies, a nonprofit organization working to end pancreatic cancer, has awarded a scholarship to Michael O’Donohue of Byram Township.

He attends Sussex County Community College (SCCC).

“Purple Pansies is proud to provide the resources students need to continue their education,” said founder Maria Fundora, who lost her mother to the disease in 2007. “It is our goal to continue to support and bring pancreatic cancer awareness to the younger generation.”

Purple Pansies has raised more than $5 million to fund research through Translational Genomics Research Institute, part of City of Hope, a nonprofit medical research institute that works on ground-breaking strategies targeting pancreatic cancer.

The scholarships are for students who have lost an immediate family member (parent of guardian) to pancreatic cancer or students who have a parent, guardian, grandparent or immediate family member that has survived or is fighting pancreatic cancer.

Applicants were selected based on essays about their experience with pancreatic cancer and how the scholarship would make a difference in their lives.

”I have lost two special people to this disease with a third currently battling. I know the pain and suffering it can cause a family,” O’Donohue said.

“This scholarship will help me raise money to organize a classic car show at my college in honor and in memory of all of those who lost their live to this dreadful disease.”

People interested in applying for a scholarship may go online to https://purplepansies.org/scholarship/

The deadline to apply is May 5.