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Teen Cancer Challenge
PLAYING FOR A CAUSE - Showing his support for the Teen Cancer Challenge, junior Max Coffin wears a Teen Cancer Challenge sticker on his cheek. The Football Cancer Showdown against Bentonville High raised almost $20,000 for the cause. Photo by Courtney Ulrich
Student Feature Article
On a mission: Teen Cancer Challenge educates students, raises funds
FHS student author Caroline Bauman is Co-Editor of the FHS Register newspaper.
About 788 students out of 1,819 currently enrolled at Fayetteville High School will develop cancer during their lifetimes.
This startling number is based on the American Cancer Society statistic that one-half of all men and one-third of all women will get cancer.
Recently, two former graduates, Houston Hynes and Clancy Jones, were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph tissue.
“With Houston’s diagnosis, I think our school feels the need to do something,” senior Taylor Power said.
When speaking of her sister Clancy’s diagnosis and treatment, senior Chloe Jones said it was one of the most challenging things she and her family had to go through, but she believes her sister has become a stronger person because of it.
“Teenagers with cancer is something that is uncomfortable to a lot of people,” Chloe Jones said. “But it’s important to encourage those who are affected by cancer so they feel strong enough to beat it mentally and physically.”
The Cancer Challenge, a non-profit dedicated to helping local cancer victims and their families, partnered with FHS this school year in raising funds for local cancer patients and educating students on cancer prevention.
Student council (STUCO) and the Cancer Challenge worked together to create the Football Cancer Showdown, which took place Sept. 24 at the Bentonville High School football stadium.
“The Cancer Challenge contacted us to help with this event,” said senior STUCO member Elizabeth Gorman. “They felt like FHS had a good sense of unity and could join together for this cause.”
The event raised around $20,000, according to STUCO president Blake St. Clair.
Student Council sold t-shirts prior to the showdown for $10, and violet-colored balloons were sold for $1 and released before kickoff in honor of those fighting cancer, according to senior STUCO member Conley Pretzer.
“The goal of the benefit game was to educate the young male athletes and fans about cancer while raising money for the Cancer Challenge,” said Tina Waggener, Cancer Challenge executive director.
The specific type of cancer that was focused on was testicular cancer, according St. Clair.
“(Testicular cancer) is very relatable to young men, especially since it is the most common form of cancer among men between the ages of 15 and 40,” St. Clair said.
Players wore violet-colored ribbons on their helmets to heighten the awareness of testicular cancer, according to Waggener.
However, it’s more than just creating awareness.
“The Cancer Challenge is focusing on educating the student athletes about the disease and providing them with information about self-examinations and recognizing the warning signs,” Waggener said.
Local urologists Dr. Jeffrey Secular and Dr. Robert Zimmerman met with both teams, stressing the importance of identifying symptoms of testicular cancer.
“Our school did great for its first year,” Gorman said.“We hope to make (the football showdown) a tradition,”
The volleyball team also partnered with the Cancer Challenge to host a Volley For Cancer Volleyball Tri-Match with Bentonville and Huntsville in late August, according to Waggener.
Each team picked a specific gynecological cancer to support and represent. Bentonville raised funds for breast cancer, Fayetteville for ovarian cancer and Huntsville for uterine cancer.
Over $7,000 was raised for local cancer programs through the event.
“The great thing about helping the Teen Cancer Challenge is that all the money goes back to people in our community,” Head Volleyball Coach Jessica Phelan said. “Cancer is faced by so many woman, I thought the opportunity to serve while receiving an education was a way we could make ourselves more aware.”
Assistant Principal Dr. Evelyn Marbury is a firm believer in learning about cancer at an early age.
“I had no idea what cancer really entailed … until I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Marbury said. “My experience was the first time I really understood. That is why it’s good at an early age to start learning about cancer. Anytime is great.”