The Southard Fire House in Howell was filled with people and organizations on Sunday supporting a 14-year-old cancer survivor doing her part for other children going through treatment.

Riley Risden was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia four years ago. After undergoing two and a half years of treatment, she wants to make sure no child has to endure this journey alone.

She spread awareness about the challenges children and their families face while fighting cancer with a blood drive and fundraiser for local childhood cancer foundations. It’s part of her Girl Scouts Silver Award project.

“She said, ‘Mom, I want to spread childhood cancer awareness. I’ve been through it. I get it and I know I want to share it with others so that they can help kids that go through the journey,’” said Chrissy Risden.

Four years after her diagnosis and now in remission, the rising freshman, opened up about how those years were for her.

“When I was going through my cancer treatment, not many people knew what I was going through or what I was experiencing,” said Riley Risden. “I wanted to do this so no one else had to feel the same way I did. I felt very isolated. I didn’t have many friends anymore. I’m just doing it so everyone knows how to treat someone who’s going through something difficult.”

Risden invited the many organizations and people who were there for her during her battle. She also created a video that will be shared with local schools as part of childhood cancer awareness curriculum this fall.

“Her first few days of her diagnosis she needed a lot of blood transfusions,” said Chrissy Risden. “All she could think about was, ‘Mom how do I take all this blood from others? They need it too.’ So we hosted blood drives in her honor and here she is hosting her own. And it’s just incredible.”

Riley completed her treatment about a year ago. She is still impacted by side effects of long-term chemotherapy and steroids. She has developed avascular necrosis in many of the bones in her body and got a full hip replacement in 2024. She was also recently diagnosed with amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome.

Riley also partnered with a local business to create special “challenge coins” to raise money for the local charities. She offered her advice for anyone going through their own battle.

“Know that there’s going to be good and bad days. Every day is going to be different,” said Risden. “Me and my family would do two things that were good every day and two things that were bad and we would reflect on the day, so then the next day could be better.”