November 6th through 10th, Whitney Young will be hosting its first Cancer Awareness Week. Seniors, Ellie Lynch, Allison Mitola, Haley Wellman, and Jai Primer have created the event in coordination with Whitney Young’s Doctors Without Borders club. The girls have various reasons close to their hearts that inspired them to start this event. Ellie Lynch 18’, states that “a lot of people know that October is Breast Cancer awareness month, but what many people don’t know is that every other cancer has a month, ribbon, and color. The Cancer awareness week will bring attention to other types of cancer that deserve just as much support.” Haley Wellman 18’, reflects on the fact that “many students at Whitney Young know someone that has suffered from cancer at some point in their lives, including myself.” Allison Mitola 18’, adds that she has “lost [her] aunt from leukemia and [her] grandpa to lung cancer.” Everyday of the week will represent an underrepresented cancer that the girls hope to bring awareness to, including thyroid, leukemia, sarcoma, lung, and pancreatic cancers. On each day, students are encouraged to wear the color connected with that specific illness. The event will also include a week-long fundraiser, after which all of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Haley Wellman 18’ concludes, “this week is an opportunity for our community to get involved in the movement to spread awareness and show our love and support to those that are hurting.”

Image courtesy of Lone Star Radiation Oncology