Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Gilroy Solorsano sixth grader takes first place in Synopsis Science Fair
“I tried to cure cancer but I couldn’t,” Ganesh said
Photo by Marty Cheek
Solorsano 8th-grade student Aryan Ganesh displays his first-place project titled “Study and Comparison of Effects of Different Natural Products that Can Cure or Prevent Cancer Using Drosophila Model.”
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
Here’s some really happy news about a local kid who has ambitions to one day prevent and maybe even cure cancer using natural ingredients.
Solorsano Middle School 6th-grader Aryan Ganesh took first-place in the Synopsys Science Fair competing against students from the whole Silicon Valley, his father, Vanamu Ganesh told us.
He was selected for the state and nationals science fair competitions. California canceled the state competition because of the COVID-19 crisis, but the Broadcom Masters — America’s national science fair — is still on for fall.
The 11-year-old Gilroy resident’s project was titled “Study and Comparison of Effects of Different Natural Products that Can Cure or Prevent Cancer Using Drosophila Model.” It won first place at the South Valley Science and Engineering Fair held Feb. 8 at Christopher High School.
Using various herbs including cinnamon, sesame seeds, moringa and (this being Gilroy) garlic, he gave dosages to wild flies larvae. He determined which adult flies had cancer by looking through a high-powered microscope and noting a blurriness in their eyes. The flies that had the least cancer rate were those exposed to a combination of moringa and sesame seeds, he found.
“I tried to cure cancer but I couldn’t,” Ganesh said. “And also, I knew these natural products are painless. When you eat them, they might be disgusting, but they’re better than going through chemotherapy.”
Good luck at the nationals, Aryan!
The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce has launched a special fundraiser to support local healthcare professionals in gratitude for all that they are giving to our community. Gilroy Helping Heroes is designed to allow the community to help purchase face masks and face shields for healthcare heroes.
The goal is $18,000 to purchase 5,000 face masks and 5,000 face shields. The money that is being donated will be held by Gilroy Foundation until such time that the PPEs are purchased. Visit www.gilroy.org/gilroyhelpingheroes/ to make a donation.
The 37th Annual Wildflower Run, initially scheduled for March 29 at Live Oak High School, was converted to a “Virtual Run” in order to conform with social distancing guidelines. This virtual run ends May 3. Until then, registered participants can compete in the Wildflower Run social media contest, submitting their run photos (which may be on the street, in the hills, or even on a treadmill) and be entered into a drawing for prizes — which would otherwise have gone to the winners of the events.
Members of AAUW Morgan Hill, the event organizer, have been delighted with the community’s response. While registrations were down (430 versus the usual 1,000), both participants and sponsors maintained support after the shift to a virtual event was announced. And AAUW has worked hard to maintain their commitment to the runners; in addition to adding the prize drawing, they have mailed or delivered goodie bags, bibs and T-shirts to the participants.
AAUW’s Wildflower Run annually funds local scholarships, community grants, and leadership programs for women and girls.
In 2019, AAUW allocated a record $65,000. With the cancelling of other upcoming nonprofit community events (most notably the Gilroy Garlic Festival and Mushroom Mardi Gras), these funds will be needed even more in the upcoming year. While final refunds and expenses have not yet been finalized, AAUW is confident that the community will not see a significant reduction in the upcoming year to their support for our community.
We’re glad the organization was able to adapt and overcome the hindrances put on by the shelter in place orders. Well done!
Santa Clara County made the decision to use the De Paul Health Center site in Morgan Hill as a COVID-19 testing center beginning Wednesday, April 22. The testing will occur outside the facility as the inside of the facility is still not ready for use.
This testing center is not for the general public. Rather, the center will provide testing for Valley Health Plan members, Valley Health Plan employees, and as a county facility, testing for those that are uninsured. The testing center will be open for appointments on a referral basis only.
A reminder that testing is only available on a limited basis following the guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health. A description of that guidance and priorities for testing can be found on the California Department of Public Health website.
I know it’s a pain in the you-know-what for many of us to follow stay-in-place orders and not enjoy our lives as we once did before the pandemic. But please continue following social distancing. Your life and the lives of others in the South Valley are at risk.
Robert Airoldi is the editor of Gilroy Life. Reach him at [email protected].
