This past week was ‘Angelia’ week at AAS – the AAS community fundraised money for the ‘Angelia’ foundation that helps children battling cancer. The activities culminated in the ‘Angelia’ Run earlier today, where everyone joined in running or walking around the campus to show their support for the cause.

However, the most inspiring event was our special guest – Ralitsa Vladimirova, Lia’s mom, who shared the story about her daughter’s illness and how the ‘Angelia’ foundation came to be at the MS&HS Assembly.

Back in the day, Lia and her younger sister Romi attended AAS. Lia was a ballerina, full of energy and dreams…  Until one day in 2007 she was diagnosed with cancer and her family’s life changed completely. Lia and her mom went to New York to fight the hard battle for Lia’s health.

Ralitsa gets emotional remembering those days. As hard as this is, though, she still feels grateful to have gone through the experience – “Lia and I shared so many moments, our days were so full, that it felt like 10 years, not one”, Ralitsa shares and ads that the empathy and support of the local community helped her push through those tough times.

Sadly, despite the doctors’ efforts, Lia lost the battle to cancer in 2008. Her mom, though completely devastated, had to carry on. “We lost Lia just one week before Romi’s birthday. And despite the fact that we were completely heartbroken, Romi wanted to celebrate her birthday. That’s when I knew I had to gather my strength and continue”, Ralitsa shares and adds “Romi, with her passion for life, gave me, maybe unknowingly, the courage to live on.” 

After the loss of Lia, Ralitsa founded the ‘Angelia’ Foundation to help other families fighting the disease. In the beginning it was the moms of Lia’s friends at school who got involved, fundraising and organizing activities for the sick kids. 

“I am grateful that the AAS community has always been supportive and open to sharing. I know that the subject of losing someone to cancer is not an easy one, but I believe it is important to raise awareness that, sadly, these things happen and they are part of life”, says Ralitsa. She believes that anyone can volunteer, as long as their own heart’s ‘battery’ is full. “We have to be kind to ourselves though and accept that we wouldn’t be able to give 100 % every day. Some days we would only manage to give a hug to the parent of a sick child and that would be more than enough.” 

Back in 2008, an AAS teacher couple – Lynn and Jim Anderson, gave the idea to create a little garden on campus in Lia’s memory and students got involved in taking care of the area. Sixteen years later, Lia’s garden has grown and invites anyone to take a break under the trees. “The garden is a nice metaphor of the circle of life – we will all come back to nature one day. It is a place to reflect and feel the good energy that Lia brought into the world”, Ralitsa comments and remembers how full of zest for life Lia was. “She was not afraid to be vulnerable, to share herself with others and that was her great strength.  In her short time here, Lia had many experiences.

That is how life should be lived”, Ralitsa believes – being able to carry on, laugh, do new things, despite the heaviness in your heart. “It is important to have the right tools – with them you are able to overcome any adversity in life”, she says and explains that ballet and artistic expression was what helped her find meaning after the tragedy.

Ralitsa is grateful to the AAS community for the continuous support for ‘Angelia’ and shares her hopes for the future. “I really hope AAS could organize more initiatives involving the sick children – welcoming them on campus, spending time together, having a picnic or an arts workshop. Monetary donations for the cause are greatly appreciated,but at the end of the day – all these children want is to be seen and embraced by the community. I feel AAS is a great place for that, Ralitsa concludes.