Start with one tablespoon of happiness. Add the ‘hottest car’ of the senior class, a bright yellow buggy. Next, add an infectious smile and bubbly personality. Mix it all together and you’ll get the happiest senior, Audrey Gebhardt, walking down the halls with a picnic basket full of her own baked creations, spreading her positive energy and delicious desserts.

This past month, Gebhardt took part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York City, walking in honor of her mom. The walk consists of 39.3 miles and takes place over the course of two days. Participants walk as far as they can up to 26.2 miles on Saturday, and sleep overnight in tents to rest up for the final stretch, 13.1 miles on Sunday. The walk is filled of passion, hope, and courage that women have towards creating a world where breast cancer no longer exists. Along with Mandalay Elementary School teacher Mrs. McGratty-White, Gebhardt crossed the finish line with thousands of other women who have been affected by breast cancer in their own lives, or the lives of the people they love.

Throughout the month of October, you may have seen flyers around the school for various bake sales, and tie-dying for the cure events. You may’ve also seen many students wearing pink, tie-dye shirts on every Friday of the month. All these events were the doings of none other than Gebhardt. For the walk, participants must raise a minimum of $1,800 each to help the Avon Foundation provide care to women who are fighting to overcome breast cancer. Gebhardt held bake sales, selling her own desserts: a mix of pumpkin muffins, peanut butter crunch bars, and cupcakes. She also fundraised by selling pink tie-dye t-shirts that she made. Whenever she had the chance, Gebhardt used fun ways to help raise the money that she needed. Through the help of the teachers, students, family, and friends, Gebhardt and Mrs. McGratty-White raised a whopping $5,500 dollars.

Aside from her involvement with the Avon Foundation, Gebhardt has also accomplished owning her own business- before even graduating high school. Gebhardt takes orders for cupcakes, cookies, cakes, etc. for many occasions, including birthdays and anniversaries. She is always taking dessert orders from teachers, students, family, or friends, while still having room on the kitchen counter- and time in her schedule- to bake for fun, and bring desserts into school for teachers and friends to enjoy. “It’s very rewarding to be the source of my own income,” says Gebhardt, on how it feels to own her own business.

A 17 year old who has her own business, bakes cakes that will leave you speechless, and went above and beyond to raise $5,500 for a sickness that affects millions of women worldwide- and is smiling 24/7. In the future, Audrey Gebhardt will continue to fight for a cure and leave the students and teachers at Wantagh High School with pleased stomachs.