LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — While most high school students are heading to after school practice or pouring over homework, a Frederick Douglass High School senior is giving back.
Drew Rodriguez is fundraising for the Markey Cancer Foundation, and he is asking the community to join him. The only requirement? Dining out.
"It's gonna be a really good day," said Rodriguez.
The Markey DineAround is a first-time event, organized by the 17-year-old Lexington student.
"I've got time and I'm really fortunate. At first I tried to lean away from 'hey I'm a high schooler' ...I realized I really need to lean into that," Rodriguez explained.
Rodriguez has entrepreneurial dreams and a passion for giving back, and after learning how vital the Markey Cancer Center is to Kentucky he decided to come up with a way to raise some money.
"I'm really fortunate in that I don't have any immediate family that has cancer, but what I've learned through doing this is that cancer touches everybody in one way or another " Rodriguez said. "They do so much, so I'm just doing our part to help them in their effort to help us."
Markey is Kentucky's only NCI designated cancer center. The money raised will be used toward things like research, patient care or clinical trials, all to meet their world-class standards.
"Whenever anyone wants to do a fundraiser to benefit Markey we are extremely grateful, when it's a 17-year-old high school senior who could be doing a handful of other things, it's even more special " said Jessica Miller of the Markey Cancer Foundation.
All people have to do is eat out on Tuesday January 28th at one of 15 restaurants, and 25% of proceeds goes straight to the Markey Cancer Foundation. A day to make a difference just by dining out.
"I'm just really excited for the future the DineAround holds," Rodriguez said.
