Stepping Up to Help Those Affected by Cancer

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Koa Lowe. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Sixteen-year-old high school athlete Koa Lowe knows a lot about cancer. While he’s never been a patient, his mom is a childhood cancer survivor, and his dad is an oncologist. Together, he and his mom started Luna Peak Foundation to support those directly affected by cancer, as well as their loved ones and those experiencing grief.

Koa has been working with Luna Peak Links, the student-led branch of the foundation, for multiple years in various roles—secretary, volunteer lead and fundraising chair. Now, as president, he brings together his peers to provide comfort to newly diagnosed children and their families through care packages and to raise funds in creative ways.

With three brothers, two dogs and an Italian exchange student, the Lowe house understands how to prop each other up when life’s low points cause a change in plans. Encouragement and assistance can make all the difference, and they are committed to being that for others.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

My mom was a cancer survivor, and my dad’s an oncologist, so I’ve been around it my whole life. My mom is currently working at Cancer Support Community. Everything that surrounds me is mostly about cancer, and I really want to support the cause. At our nonprofit, all the money that comes in, we put back into making care packages, sending them out to hospitals and children’s hospitals and making books for people who are grieving to help them and teach them how to deal with their grief.

Tell us about your volunteer role with the Luna Peak Foundation.

I create agendas for team meetings, recruit volunteers, reach out to donors for care package items and help at fundraising events. We haven’t finalized all of our events yet, but next week, we’re going to my mom’s 42nd year of remission party with her and her survivor friends and family.
She had it when she was very young, and my grandma also had it. So, it’s been part of my life since I was young. We’re just celebrating her. We have raffle tickets. Some of us go up and speak. My mom and I will speak about our experiences.

Many of our events are fundraisers with partners like Cancer Support Community. My favorite annual project is creating care packages that we deliver to hospitals all over Southern California. Our last meeting was about what to put in those–teddy bears, games, puzzles, blankets. Things that would cheer up kids in their time of need. The Luna Peak Links usually focuses on young people and the umbrella organization, Luna Peak, helps older patients.

You mentioned some of the physical things that patients or their loved ones might need. What other kinds of support can people give?
My mom has found that sharing her experience with others helps them talk about their own experiences. And that’s what the club at high school is about. At our first meeting, we share how we’ve been affected. My mom feels that it’s therapeutic. She also creates books–including children’s books–about her experiences and shares those with other cancer survivors. Her goal is to make them feel seen.

What is Cubing for Cancer?

The idea was inspired by my little brother’s interest in Rubik’s cube and something called “speed cubing,” which basically involves solving it as fast as possible. He started going to events and competitions, and my mom came up with the idea to use that to support those affected by cancer.

So, we set up a big cubing event where I went to preschool that brought out more than 100 speed cubers. We raised money for Luna Peak through ticket and food sales, sponsorships and a raffle that ended the event. It made the school news and was very productive. We’re planning to do it again this year.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The most rewarding thing is making these care packages, hopefully making people feel seen, and seeing the joy in my mom’s face when she writes these books. I hope everyone who gets one of these packages has a smile on their face. The hospital has us drop them off, and caretakers and doctors deliver them. We probably make about 100 at a time. Last year, we made around 500.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I’ve learned a lot of social skills through talking to all my mom’s friends and have learned about how cancer affects the community. It doesn’t just affect the people who have cancer. It can affect friends and family. That’s also why my mom creates grief books, to help those surrounding a patient’s family and friends, because it can be very hard on them. It’s taught me a lot of humility about the cause.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

It’s nice to be a part of what you’re passionate about. When something is negatively affecting others, especially those that you really care about, you should support them in any way that you can.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Just get out there. Have fun with what you’re doing. Talk to others. If you’re doing the work that I’m doing, talk to others. Learn as much as you can about the cause. Talk to survivors and grievers. Include yourself in every part, in every way you can.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

We want to teach cancer survivors and those affected by it that they’re never alone; there’s always someone they can come to. You can always come to our events.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Koa? Find local volunteer opportunities.