COMMUNITY
THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | FEBRUARY 6, 2022
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Chandler cancer victim, 16, gets a big surprise BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Staff Writer
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ulia Mitchell, a then 15-year-old south Chandler resident, looks into the camera without and hair on her head. She seems fearless, looking into the camera. However, right before her big announcement her eyes look away. “I have a bone cancer, which is called Ewing sarcoma,” she says in her first YouTube video documenting her journey in fighting cancer. “I have a tumor, a 6-inch tumor, in my right hip.” Her first video has been watched more than 20,000 times. And some of those viewers were likely among those who came out on Jan. 20 to help the high school sophomore celebrate her 16th birthday. Julia’s family planned a drive-by parade in front of their house. They set up a big easy chair for Julia to sit in and made sure she had a blanket to stay warm. Julia attended Basha High School last year, but switched to Chandler Online Academy after being diagnosed in August. She has since taken a break from
Cancer survivor Julia Mitchell was surprised with a new Volkswagen Beetle for her 16th birthday during a birthday parade in her honor in front of her Chandler home Jan. 20. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
her studies to focus on her health. Hundreds of cars drove past, with many of their drivers shouting happy birthday. The parade included Chandler Fire and Police vehicles, a Lamborghini, classic Mustangs, Corvettes and even the
more common Hyundais and Hondas seen every day on the road. The line was long and just kept coming. One family member guessed there had to be more than 400 vehicles. “We are so thankful for everybody’s
support, and prayers and encouragement to get through this,” mom Wendy Mitchell said. “I don’t think people can do this on their own. It’s too much.” The idea was suggested in a Facebook group called Julia’s Journey. That’s where many of the people learned of it. One car stood out from the rest – a light blue Volkswagen Beatle. What made it special is that it was the car the community bought it for Julia as a birthday present. “I was not expecting that at all,” Julia said. “I thought there’d be, like, 10, 20 cars driving by and saying ‘happy birthday.’ Sandra Row donated $5,000 toward the new car. Others in the community chipped in an additional $1,800, Wendy said. Van’s Chevrolet then contributed the rest so Julia had her own car. Julia doesn’t have her license yet, so she can’t drive it for a while. She plans to get her license once she can walk again after recovering from hip surgery. In her videos, she’s honest about the process she is going through. She talks of her anxiety attacks, having to cut her
see CANCER page 26
Chandler students compete in district spelling bee ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF
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aking the stage before a crowd of family members, teachers and principals from their schools, 41 Chandler elementary and middle school students competed at a district spelling bee last month at Chandler Center for the Arts. Nethra Chintaboina Ramprasad, an eighth grader at Basha Accelerated Middle School, won the championship after 15 rounds by correctly spelling “perpendicular.” Nethra won a trophy and bookstore gift card by Assistance League of East Valley, which co-sponsored the event with Chandler Unified School District. She and 10 semi-finalists will go on to
compete at the Maricopa Region 6 spelling bee on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center. From there, winners from each region will progress to the state contest on March 19, hoping to represent Arizona at the televised Scripps National Spelling Bee in June. LaVar Burton is this year’s host. Chandler semi-finalists, each of whom also received a trophy and gift card from Assistance League, are Aadi Rao of Arizona College Prep Middle School, Raania Khan of Chandler Traditional Academy Liberty campus, Owen Leo of Bogle JuNethra Chintaboina Ramprasad, a Basha Accelerated Middle School student, won the Region 6 spelling bee last month. (Special to the Arizonan)
nior High, Maria Parada Ortega of Carlson Elementary, Josh Ronsayro of Basha Elementary, Shree Thailikar of Chandler Traditional Academy Independence campus, Zoya Siddiqui of Hancock Elementary, Chloe Passno of Haley Elementary, Manha Hossain of Knox Gifted Academy and Everett Casper of Weinberg Gifted Academy. Assistance League of East Valley is an all-volunteer organization which provides nearly 10,000 elementary students and homeless teens with new school clothing, uniforms, shoes and hygiene items each year. Major source of funding is their thrift shop at 2326 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Information:assistanceleague.org/ east-valley.
