Support cancer survivor Miles Lima in academic Excellence

Note: Important links can be found at the bottom of this section. Also, be sure to read the updates section below the main story. For additional questions, please call us at +1 (209) [phone redacted] or email me at [email redacted].

My name is Miles Lima, and I am a student at Sierra High School in Manteca, California. I am a three-time survivor of retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer. From two months old, I've been through chemotherapy, numerous rounds of radiation. and countless invasive surgeries and procedures. At age four, I underwent an experimental treatment to attempt to neutralize the tumors. This treatment was successful in that aim. However, a side effect of this treatment was the slow decay of my vision. Over the next seven years, my sight became worse and worse, before, in April of 2019, I was yet again diagnosed with cancer and, five months later, had my right eye completely removed to access the site of the tumor. A year later, my left eye was removed to mitigate near-constant pain in the area.

Despite my hardship, I've managed to excel academically. I maintain a 4.25 GPA and am enrolled in several AP classes. I'm a musician, playing in four bands and directing a local choir. I'm also interested in traveling, meeting new people, and inspiring others to achieve their absolute best, which brings me to the reason I come to you today.

I am a participant in a global academic competition and intercultural education initiative called the World Scholars Cup. It is a program that brings students together from around the world, inspiring them to get to know each other and truly connect. Through a three-level format, the organization gives the opportunity for students to travel around the globe for competitions, all while learning about the cultures, perspectives, and ways of life of their fellow humanity. I was told about the WSC by a close friend in 2023, and immediately began participating. I have since fallen in love with every aspect of the program, from its empathetic, warmhearted staff, to the spirited and encouraging community that its students have built. I have always dreamed of going out and experiencing the world, meeting as many people as possible. There were times, during the worst of my battle, that I thought I may not be able to achieve this. However, all these years later, The World Scholars Cup and its incredible team are helping me to realize this dream.

My wonderful experiences in 2024 planted a seed within me. I wanted to bring the opportunity to participate in this lifechanging program to the students of my high school, wishing to share the impact of the program with as many as I could. In April of 2025, I led a delegation of thirty-one students of the high school to an incredible result at the San Francisco Regional Round. Every single one of my eleven teams qualified for the second round of competition. I was ranked first overall scholar, with the third highest test score in the history of the entire organization. The next round will be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia this July. We will be attempting to send twenty-one students and four chaperones to the event.

This is an extremely expensive endeavor. Registration fees, lodging, and transportation expenses all equate to an approximate cost of $60,000, money that we need by June 19th. The World Scholars Cup is dominated by private schools due to the cost, but we as public school students have managed to hold our own.

Money is the only barrier for us.

This is why I need your help. I just want to be able to give the students that are part of my program the opportunity to travel, make life-long international connections, and compete. Please, I ask you with all my passion and sincerity, help me achieve this.

Links:

Our Instagram: www.instagram.com/mantecascholars

WSC Website: www.scholarscup.org