kmetzger@mi-reporter.com

Kat Tiscornia is a horseback rider, a public speaker and a cancer survivor. She’s also 15 years old.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Washington Chapter named Tiscornia the 2014 Outstanding Youth Philanthropist last week, and will honor her and other philanthropic leaders on Nov. 5 at The Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle.

“I’m honored to receive this award. It means a lot to me,” she said.

Diagnosed in the spring of 2013, the Mercer Island High School sophomore has become not only a survivor, but also an inspiration to others.

Tiscornia, with her growing band of “Kat’s Crew” supporters, has raised more than $180,000 for pediatric cancer research. Through her speaking engagements – in support of Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she battled through nine months of chemotherapy and surgery to remove a tumor in her right thigh – she hopes to help people see childhood cancer through a new lens.

But her first speaking engagement wasn’t at a hospital. It was her eighth grade graduation. Though she said she feared public speaking before, she gained confidence when a teacher told her that she could be a voice for kids who are sick.

“I can’t put into words the challenge of having five inches of your femur removed and going through intense chemotherapy,” said her father, Tim Tiscornia. “The fact that she has the strength to speak at these events and raise money for the next teen that has to go through this… It’s pretty amazing.”

There are about 225 diagnosed cases of Ewing’s sarcoma a year in North America. Tiscornia hopes to get involved in the drive for a cure and better treatments.

“I’m doing very well now,” she said, saying she is back at high school and is able to ride her horse, Scooter, again. “I’m one of the fortunate kids.”

To learn more about Tiscornia’s fundraising efforts and speaking events, visit kats-crew.tumblr.com.