Two years ago, Lance was more than 13,000 kilometres away from Moshono, at school, in Medina, Minnesota, studying a subject called 鈥楲ife Class鈥�, when his teacher began talking about Tanzania and a school in Arusha.
It was at this point that Lance鈥檚 teacher showed the class a 鈥�60 Minutes鈥� documentary featuring an interview with mini传媒 Founder, Gemma Sisia.
The documentary made an immediate impression on Lance.
He wanted to help.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e a kid and you can help another kid,鈥� says Lance. 鈥淭hen why not?鈥�
That night, Lance went home and showed his parents the St Jude鈥檚 website, wanting them to be as enthused as he was by what he鈥檇 seen.
Lance鈥檚 parents were impressed by St Jude鈥檚, but they figured this was a passing interest, like with other things Lance had learnt about at school.
鈥淔rom our perspective,鈥� says Lance鈥檚 dad, David. 鈥淗e comes home from school with something exciting all the time.鈥�
But weeks turned into months, and Lance did not let up.
Months later, for Christmas, Lance decided that instead of receiving presents, he wanted to try and sponsor a student's education. On his birthday, he doubled down, insisting that all the money he received be put towards helping St Jude鈥檚.
鈥淟ance鈥檚 mantra is 鈥榢ids can do things鈥�,鈥� says David.
Encouraged by his parents, Lance pooled together all his money and began a shared sponsorship of an academic scholarship for a Standard 3 student, Twayiba.
He has now been supporting Twayiba for almost two years, with the two exchanging letters and photos several times a year.
It鈥檚 not just Lance who eagerly awaits to hear from Twayiba, but his parents and sister too.
鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 Lance鈥檚 money that pays the sponsorship cost, it鈥檚 in his name and the letters go to him, so I鈥檓 always having to asking him 鈥� hey, let me see them too!鈥� says Lance鈥檚 mother, Nicole.
As the exchange of letters continued, the two children, from opposite sides of the planet, began to establish a connection and Lance set about lobbying his parents to visit St Jude鈥檚 and Twayiba in person.
In July, they did just that.
Upon arriving, Lance鈥檚 family were surprised by the enormity of St Jude鈥檚.
鈥淵ou think it鈥檚 going to be a little school,鈥� says David. 鈥淏ut we came here and we were floored 鈥� it鈥檚 got multiple campuses and it鈥檚 grown so much.鈥�
The family joined a reading lesson with a class of primary students in the library. Lance was impressed with the reading skills of the students.
鈥淭here were some pretty big words, like 鈥榝ascinating鈥欌��, says Lance. 鈥淎nd they knew them! To think that only a couple of years ago they didn鈥檛 speak or read any English, it鈥檚 pretty amazing.鈥�
Lance鈥檚 favourite thing about his visit?
鈥淰isiting Twayiba鈥檚 home and meeting her family,鈥� Lance easily recalls, 鈥渢he culture exchange was great, we were all asking questions. How old we were, what our families were like. They were a bit surprised to find out it was me sponsoring Twayiba though, I think they thought it was my dad!鈥�
After visiting St Jude鈥檚 and seeing it in action for themselves, Lance and his family are now keener than ever to spread the word about St Jude鈥檚.
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