Middle School Tween Collects Bottes to Aid Aunt in Breast Cancer Fight

Carly Rose Fiorentine was just 10 years old when her family found out that her aunt Angela had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

Carly, not content to sit still, decided to take matters into her own hands, said her mother Tina Fiorentine. She decided she would start her own campaign to help her aunt and began collecting water bottles for the refund money. Her plan was to collect enough bottles to raise $1,000 and then donate the money to breast cancer research.

“Being a very close-knit family, the news was devastating to us all,” said Tina. “We all rallied around Angela to do what we could, but doctors told us that they would have to try come cutting edge treatment to make any impact on Angela’s cancer.”

Carly was steadfast in her commitment. She made flyers to post in her school to help spread the word and stayed focused on her goal to raise money.

It's been two years since Carly started her collection, and approximately 20,000 water bottles later she has finally reached her goal. Carly, now 12 and a student at William T. Rogers Middle School,  asked her mother to contact a family friend named Debra Ray, who participates each year in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, so she could make a donation. Carly was part of the cheerstation at the walk.

Carly's story was covered by local cable channel, FIOS 1.

Tina hopes that Carly’s story inspires other kids to get involved and help others.

 “It teaches them to think beyond themselves and emphasizes they can make a difference, even as just one young person."