California Teen Raises $1.23 Million for Blood Cancer Research

The Story in Brief

Orion Greene, a 16-year-old student at San Rafael High School in California, led a seven-week campaign that raised $1,234,579 for Blood Cancer United. The campaign involved classmates, volunteers, family members and supporters. It won Greene the organisation’s 2026 National Student Visionary of the Year award.

The campaign honoured his father, John Greene, who had acute myeloid leukaemia, underwent three stem cell transplants and supported the organisation’s fundraising. Merchandise linked to his father’s love of piano and the family cat was sold online and at a memorial event. Blood Cancer United reported that runner-up teams raised $715,271 and more than $700,000.