The organization recently helped out teenager, Sophia Baudo, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2023 at 17 years old, by offering her a fun night out with a shopping trip.

Team BE Strong 716 is made up of close friends and family that get together to help with different types of fundraising events and donations for people in need. Junie Eimiller, a Southwestern Central School English teacher, said she met Buado through a mutual friend in Clarence.

“Sophia was a part time nanny for a friend in Clarence,” Eimiller said. “I didn’t know her before she was diagnosed with cancer, and she had lost her hair and was undergoing treatments by then, but I was impressed by her upbeat, positive attitude. If you didn’t know she had cancer, you wouldn’t be able to guess.”

Baudo, now 18, is cancer free and teaches dance. Eimiller said her goal had been to “dance through life” and her treatments, which is something that she did. Prior to the diagnosis, Baudo was a student at Nardin Academy and a competitive dancer. Additionally, Eimiller said she believed that the diagnosis was unexpected, as it began with Baudo not feeling well which led to an X-Ray after a breathing episode.

Eimiller and Team BE Strong 716 took Baudo for retail therapy, or the act of shopping to lift your mood and relieve stress, in early November.

“Sophia is a kind, friendly soul and when I heard her story I wanted to help,” Eimiller said. “They had a link up for medical expenses, but I wanted to do something else to help that would be fun for her. I asked around for what she needed and after no suggestions asked her if she wanted to do shopping and dinner with us in this area, so some of us in the group, our daughters and my puppy. She said yes and loved it, and we all enjoyed ourselves.”

As for what comes next for Baudo, Eimiller said she is currently attending University of Buffalo, continuing to teach dance, and staying active and healthy. For Team BE Strong 716, she said they aim to do one or two similar events or fundraisers for people in need per month. These usually come from people Eimiller crosses paths with, or that she knows are sick or suffering a loss. One example is the annual Italian dinner fundraiser planned for Feb 8. Tickets are on sale for that starting Jan 2, with more information to be released at a later date.

Overall, Eimiller said her goal with Team BE Strong 716 is to continue the mission to help people like Baudo.

“I created this team in memory of my son because he liked to volunteer in the community and had a heart for people who needed help,” Eimiller said. “I know he was smiling down on us during our shopping trip because it was something he would’ve done too. I try to pick things to do based on what he would want to do, or what I want to do. I think he would approve.”

To learn more about Baudo’s journey or to donate to her medical expenses, visit baldforbucks.org/sophia-baudo/.