VB native recognized as Ambassador Kid

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A Virginia Beach native has been chosen as a 2012 Ambassador Kid for the St. Baldrick's Foundation .

Sarah Swaim, 22, was diagnosed with biphenotypic leukemia, a form of childhood cancer, when she was 14 years old, according to a news release.

After being in remission for nearly seven years, a routine checkup in 2010 revealed that Sarah’s leukemia had returned. She received a stem cell transplant and is now fighting complications from her treatment while her body adjusts to her new immune system.

Sarah is now a junior at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. majoring in early childhood development.

In recognition of her courageous journey with cancer, Sarah was chosen as a 2012 Ambassador Kid for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research.

The five Ambassador Kids serve as the faces and voices of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation throughout the year and share its mission to conquer childhood cancer.

The kids are a reminder that cancer affects more than 160,000 children worldwide each year and in the U.S. one in five kids diagnosed will not survive.

Sarah is already a two-time shave for the Foundation, helping to raise funds for research and her new role as an Ambassador Kid will allow her to inspire others in her community and across the nation.