On a bright spring morning, Millbrook High School came alive with color. Students, faculty, staff and families filled Millbrook’s football field in vivid yellow and festive hues, united by a single purpose: to walk for children and families fighting childhood cancer, and to honor a Wildcat whose heart made it all possible.
This year’s Wildcat Warrior Walk, organized by officers Riley Clark, Ursula Furnas, Madelynn Cox, and NHS teacher advisor, Kayla Moore, marked the second year of the student-led fundraiser benefiting Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. The organization serves to provide direct support to families navigating the devastating realities of childhood cancer. But this year carried a deeper weight. Maeley Roach, NHS President, compassionate leader and the student whose vision brought the Warrior Walk to life just one year ago. Maeley passed away this past December after a courageous battle with leukemia. She was a proud Millbrook Wildcat until the very end.
Every attendee wore a bright yellow customized t-shirt. NHS members wore the shirt to not only bring awareness but also show solidarity in the support of those affected by childhood cancer. Yellow represents the color of hope and solidarity in the fight against cancer. On the back, a large butterfly, and embedded within it: Maeley’s name.
To honor those affected by Childhood Cancer, all NHS members chose to walk for one hour or commit to the full 4.6 miles, with stations along the way for card-making, ribbon and pin decorating, and leaving their mark in tribute to those fighting and those remembered. Spirit award voting brought energy and joy to the morning, with categories celebrating the best use of gold, brightest spring spirit, most creative, and most spirited individuals and groups.
Millbrook High School senior, Riley Clark, recalls the most memorable moment of the Wildcat Warrior Walk: watching the community’s generosity surpass all expectations by exceeding their original fundraising goal and reaching a new target of $13,000 for Children’s Cancer Partners.
The cause is one Maeley understood intimately. As mentioned throughout the NHS donation website, Maeley was diagnosed with leukemia at age 11 in 2019, she wrote in her own words: “Within just a couple weeks, CCP reached out to my family. They personally met with us and told us all the ways they would be able to help during my treatment.” CCP reimbursed her family for hospital meals and gas for the countless trips to appointments. After her treatment, Maeley began volunteering with the organization, learning firsthand how CCP supports up to 2,500 families across North Carolina and South Carolina with household essentials, hotel stays, and more. “As a proud Millbrook Wildcat, I am so grateful for this opportunity to help other families,” she wrote.
That gratitude became action, and that action became the Wildcat Warrior Walk. Her parents, Tara and Jason Roach, shared a message with the Millbrook community through the donation website: “Seeing it continue this year is a powerful reminder of her strength, her heart, and the impact she made on her community. Her light continues to guide us.”
That light was felt in every step taken on walk day. Senior Alyssa Adams captured it simply: “Childhood cancer takes away so much, but this event reminded people of the strength, hope, and support that is very much present within our community. It brought awareness and created a positive environment by showing how these kids are not fighting alone, and how there is support in each and every step of their journey.”
Maeley’s impact is irreplaceable. And every year, Millbrook walks forward, carrying her legacy with purpose, pride, and love.
