ALEXANDER WESLEY
UNITED STATES, 19
Project: Renal Medullary Carcinoma Research Foundation (RMCRF)
Basic Human Needs: Health
In June 2017, Alexander lost his friend Ryse Williams to a rare form of cancer called Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC). Following his death, Alexander began to search for answers to explain why Ryse’s life was taken so young. Alexander emailed hundreds of researchers throughout the world to learn everything he could about RMC. He discovered there was a significant lack of research and funding for RMC, which predominantly affects Black males with the Sickle Cell trait. In February 2020, he formed the Renal Medullary Carcinoma Research Foundation (RMCRF) - a nonprofit organization that closes the gap in funding and research of diseases that affect minority communities, and connects the millions of people worldwide who have RMC to the most current information about their disease. In addition, RMCRF’s Fund the Future Youth Scholarship supports minority youth who are pursuing careers in medicine. In 2020, RMCRF connected dozens of patients to clinical trials around the United States and educated thousands more from their website and social media. Alexander will soon expand his outreach to Kenya and communities in West Africa. He is currently speaking to Congressional Members to raise funds and develop legislation that helps find treatments for RMC and other diseases predominantly affecting minority populations. In the future, Alexander wants to build a global community of youth activists who bring awareness of diseases that are underfunded and affect minorities, and increase the representation of Black boys and girls hoping to pursue careers in medicine.