Danvers -- For her bat mitzvah project, 13-year-old Marisa Paul of Danvers took on cancer, a cause that unfortunately struck close to home. Her beloved grandmother, Nana, and her aunt had both been diagnosed with breast cancer and were treated at North Shore Medical Center’s Cancer Center in Peabody. When visiting the facility, Marisa was impressed with the high level of care.

For a year prior to her March 15 bat mitzvah, Marisa collected, rinsed and hauled thousands of aluminum cans to a local recycling center, earning five cents per can. Her father, Gary, is employed at Salem Plumbing and Supply in Beverly. Ralph Sevinor, co-owner of Salem Plumbing, had a “can do” attitude about helping Marisa achieve her goal. For an entire year, he allowed her to recycle all the cans collected there and also gave her all the money collected from the company’s vending machines.

The seventh grader, who attends Holten Richmond Middle School in Danvers, was able to raise a total of $700, which she recently donated to the Cancer Center. In addition, she and her family chose to make mitzvah baskets to adorn the bimah during her bat mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead. The large baskets, which were donated to the NSMC Cancer Center, contained puzzles, books and games for young patients at the facility, and to amuse kids waiting for their loved ones undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Since age seven, Marisa has participated in the annual 6.2-mile NSMC Cancer Walk. “I usually walk with my dad and other people from Salem Plumbing,” said Marisa, who dances and is in good physical condition.

This year, however, the Paul family has a wedding and cannot take part in the walk. But they are still collecting cans. And happily, Marisa’s aunt is in remission, and her Nana is doing great.

“We’re so proud,” said Marisa’s mother, Tracey. “It was important to Marisa to do a bat mitzvah project that meant something to her. This really touched home.”