PORTSMOUTH — Emily Sissel, a 9-year-old student from Portsmouth West Elementary, had a special birthday party on Nov. 30 and chose to donate her $225 in birthday money to the Breast Cancer Compassion Fund at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Sissel’s family has had four women with breast cancer, one with uterine cancer and many others who have battled and died of various forms of cancer. Her mother, Heather Sissel, helped Emily plan a pink birthday party and gave out breast cancer awareness stickers, bracelets and pamphlets.

The SOMC Breast Cancer Compassion Fund assists local breast cancer patients with their needs during treatment. When asked why she donated her money, Emily said, “I just wanted to help people get their medicine and get better.”