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Making A Difference: Laurel Co. Teen Raises Money For Cancer Research

Posted at 6:20 PM, Nov 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-12 18:20:26-05

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18)– After losing her grandmother to pancreatic cancer two years ago, a Laurel County teen has dedicated her life to finding a cure for the disease.

Hannah Fields was just 14-years-old when her grandmother battled pancreatic cancer for six months. Fields, now 16, says her grandmother was one of the kindest people she had ever met.

The impact her death had on Fields is still fresh.

“It was really hard for me to watch her get as sick as she did,” said Fields.

Her grandmother’s death changed the course of her life, opening her eyes to oncology and the future goal of becoming a doctor. At 16-years-old, that reality is still years away, so she felt she needed to do something to fill the time.

The answer to that was a walk, in her grandmother’s honor. The walk is to raise money for cancer research.

“Everybody’s really shocked because I’m doing it all and I’m just 16-years-old,” said Fields.

Fields has been hanging up purple ribbons and posting signs across the city. She’s hoping to generate money to develop life-saving tools so others don’t have to suffer as her grandmother did.

“I think she’d be really happy knowing that I was trying to help her and other people like her,” said Fields.