RISE Day 2026

Courtesy of VHHS RISE Instagram

RISE (Rebels Impact Through Service and Engagement) is a semester-long, student-led fundraiser through Youth Leadership that raises over $200,000 each year for the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program at the O’Neal Cancer Center at UAB. For 8 years, RISE has supported the least funded age group of cancer patients and is the sole supporter of this program at UAB. This year, students raised $217,332, an increase from last year, and participated in record numbers, with 1,332 students on RISE teams. 

Throughout the spring semester, students form teams of 3 to 30 students and execute fundraisers, like bake sales and soccer camps. On RISE Day, these teams host tents on the practice field, with activities from waffle bars to balloon animals. Other tents included crocheted animals, candy salad, a hang bar, and Vestavia Nutrition drinks. This year saw a ten tent increase from last year, with 61 team tents at RISE Day.

Live music is another staple of this community field day. The performances this year included Hemlock, EK Ashley, and Redwood, as well as karaoke. Students gathered on the grass in front of the stage to listen while enjoying food and drink from team tents.

In past years, students could participate in a dodgeball or 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the gym. Instead, this year marked the first cornhole and spikeball tournaments that included more students and took place on the practice field. After the tournament, the boards and nets were opened for free play, and a game of volleyball started up as well.

The luminary ceremony is always a reverent and impactful end to RISE season. Students walk the track, lined with over 2,000 luminaries, to honor those who have battled cancer. This year, two Vestavia students, sophomore B.K Moellinger and senior Dylan Owings, were battling cancer, so their families led the walk around the track. Their courage and fight are truly inspiring, and make RISE more meaningful and personal to many students.

RISE Council, who organizes the fundraiser and reveals the final total, is composed of RISE Chairs Claire Rikard, Taylor Cooper, Tatum Osborne, and Evie White, Team Development Chairs Emily Zeidler, Ellison Sizemore, Reese Adams, Will Davis, Will Ainsworth, and Parker Simpson, VP of Sponsorship Hadley McFarland, and Youth Leadership President Sela Rickert. The teachers sponsoring RISE and Youth Leadership are Mrs. Sweeney and Mrs. Cooper.