Sophie Murray Making a Difference With Those Impacted by Cancer

NEWARK, Del. - Sophia Murray has been a key member of University of Delaware's rowing program as she enters her sophomore season - but she has made even more of an impact on those affected by cancer.

Murray has spent time working with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where she has helped their fundraising efforts for nine years while also spending time with patients and families.

"Cancer affects everyone," Murray said. "It doesn't just choose people who can afford it."

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society recently started the Dare to Dream Project, which focuses on treatments for kids, that Murray is excited about. She has worked on fundraising aspects and mentorship and program development that has Visionaries of the Year - fundraising for adults - and Student Visionaries of the Year - fundraising campaigns for students in high school. Murray went through Student Visionaries of the Year during her junior year of high school.

Sophie Murray

"I kind of immersed myself in that campaign and fundraised a lot," Murray said. "I really wanted to help develop that further and get students more involved, as well as be able to attend a lot of the events with the patients and the families and show that support and hear their stories. I incorporated a lot of mission work into that aspect."

She said a lot of what she was doing was finding new ways to approach fundraising in an efficient way to connect more with their mission because "sometimes that can get separated."

Murray's connection to cancer stems from her father, a leukemia survivor who was diagnosed in 2007 - when she was about a year old. Growing up she said her family faced uncertainty but it brought a lot of closeness among each other. With her family being all local, there was a lot of support they received, especially for her mother.

"The biggest thing that my dad instilled in my brother and I and my family was to see the world more and to have all of these experiences," Murray said. "We did a ton of traveling growing up because my dad was just like 'I want these memories with my kids and I want them to be able to see the world and to experience that with me' because he understood that that can leave in an instant. Those values I feel like were something that my parents both instilled in my brother and I early on - just that appreciation and gratitude and taking advantage of every opportunity and giving it your all so he's always been a major supporter of everything my brother I have done. And he was ecstatic about me coming here to row."

Her mother was the one who got Murray interested in donating blood, something she is now very passionate about and likes to incorporate into her life as much as she can. Finding opportunities to give back has been a big part of her family, and they have helped raise $500,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"The idea of other kids and other families not being able to grow up with a parent or losing a sibling, that's not a world that I want to live in," Murray said. "I'm so grateful to have that opportunity and that second chance to have grown up with my dad. That's not the case for all families, and I was really driven by that. It helps try to accomplish that goal and hopefully find a world where people aren't losing those parents or siblings or friends."

Murray's Student Visionary of the Year campaign helped raise $115,000 over seven weeks. She said much of it comes from reaching out to businesses, getting sponsorships, and a ton of personal fundraising. Local events such as guest bartending, golf outings, and celebration boxes adds up quickly.

"You look at that number and you're like 'wow,'" Murray said.

Murray has also volunteered at the Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, which involves spending time with kids, doing arts and crafts with them, and talking with older high school kids.

"It's a really great opportunity to have," Murray said. "I've also been able to talk with a lot of the families and provide just a little bit of advice from someone who has had to live through that process and is out on the other end of things. Having the ability to give that emotional support is great too."

Over this past winter, Murray was able to shadow Dr. Megan Askew at Nemours, who is a hematologist and oncologist, and plans to do so again. A medical diagnostics major, Murray plans to attend medical school after graduating from Delaware. Currently, she is interested in being an oncologist and working with children.

Murray always holds a feeling of gratitude in everything she is doing and has done - after attending events, having her father with her, her opportunities to give back, and being a student-athlete at Delaware.

"It puts things in perspective and shows you that you have so much going on, so many amazing things going on in your life that you need to appreciate because that can disappear in an instant," Murray said. "Talking with families just really gives you a positive perspective. These kids especially are so beyond happy even though they're fighting cancer and so finding that positive side of things no matter what's going on is something that I've really been grateful to have."

Balancing volunteering while being a student-athlete doesn't feel like a check on the to-do list for Murray, instead it is more of a highlight. A couple weekends ago, Murray attended an event called Light the Night for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a walk to fundraise. A ceremony is held for a child who is fighting blood cancer and they and their family are brought up onto stage, and they bring the family of someone who's lost someone to cancer and family member and supporter. Murray was a red lantern for the event, symbolizing being a supporter.

"Another Saturday night," Murray said. "Just another really cool thing. A few hours going to one of these events and just showing support, doing a little fundraising on the side. It can be another added load, but at the end of the day, it's something positive you're giving back. It doesn't feel like another task to do."

Sophie Murray

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Sophie Murray Making a Difference With Those Impacted by Cancer

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