As a competitive dancer and high honors student, Marisa Paul’s days were already full when she began the year-long preparation for her bat mitzvah, a ceremony marking the beginning of religious responsibility for Jewish girls. But even with her hectic schedule, she decided to take on one more commitment. At the age of 12, Marisa embarked on a year-long fundraising effort to benefit the NSMC Cancer Center, where both her grandmother and aunt were successfully treated for breast cancer. Marisa also devoted her project to her father’s step-sister, who succumbed to ovarian cancer at a young age, leaving a three-year-old son behind.

For Marisa, this was not her first time raising money for the NSMC Cancer Center. From the age of seven, she had joined her father, Gary, and his co-workers from Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply at the annual NSMC Cancer WALK. But this initiative was completely different. Over the course of a year, Marisa and her family collected, rinsed, bagged, hauled and redeemed thousands and thousands of cans. Their efforts paid off and they were able to make a $700 donation to the NSMC Cancer Center. They are grateful for the help of Designer Bath’s owner, Ralph Sevinor, who for an entire year contributed all the revenue from his company’s vending machines as well as recyclable drink containersWhen asked what motivates her to work so hard raising money for the NSMC Cancer Center, Marisa’s response is simple. “The Cancer Center is a really nice place and they do so many great things to help people survive.”