Fourth Grade Edmond Student Campaigns For Cancer Awareness

Votes were cast days ago across the state with the outcome favoring one side.

But for these two campaigns, party lines didn't exist.

Election Day came for the next fourth grade president at Centennial Elementary.

On the ballot were six well-qualified politicians with various platforms, but one candidate, Lily Thomas, made a different promise.

"I'm here because I would like to raise awareness for cancer," said Lily Thomas, a fourth grader at Centennial Elementary.

And despite a catchy slogan, which is 'Don't be silly, vote for Lily,' her platform goes far beyond the classroom.

"It's like you're walking in a fog," said Lily's aunt Stacy Haggard.

That fog kept getting thicker for Stacy Haggard and her family.

Stacy's sister and Lily's mom, Jill Thomas, passed away from cancer in July.

"She's awesome, I miss her, she was a great mom," said Stacy.

So Lily's dad Stephen was left to take the role of mom and dad, but 10 weeks later Stephen died of a massive heart attack.

"It wasn't real, unbelievable," said Earle Haggard, Stacy's husband.

Stacy and Earle were granted legal guardianship of Lily and her two siblings, all under the age of 12, in addition to Stacy and Earle's three other kids.

To help, friends decided to start a different campaign, a GoFundMe page to help the Thomas children.

In one day, the fund raised nearly $21,000.

As of Friday, it had been up for 23 days with more than $128,000 donated.

"It's amazing," said Stacy.

Their hope is the money will help the family find a new normal.

"I feel like you can get lost in the darkness, or you can shine in the light," said Stacy.

Lily has chosen to shine.

"After all, life is a gift nobody deserves to have even one day taken away because of this nasty disease," said Lily.

Lily won the election by a landslide.

Learn more about the GoFundMe account to help the Thomas family.