University News
WIU To Commemorate Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
September 11, 2014
MACOMB, IL – September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women, and about 22,000 American women will be diagnosed in 2014.
The Western Illinois University Women's Center has formed a Women's Health Outreach Committee, led by student employees RaQuira Welch, a senior health service management major from Berkeley, IL, Kiara Hardin, a senior communications major from Chicago, IL, and graduate assistant Ashley Schantz, a second year graduate student in the college student personnel program, from Macomb.
Hardin was drawn to the Women's Health Outreach Committee and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month specifically after learning of a former co-worker's, Jennifer Mason's, battle with the illness. Mason is a 2013 WIU graduate with a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences.
After hearing about Mason's story, Hardin felt compelled to "be a part of a movement that would help inform women on the common, easily-missed, but dangerous symptoms." Similarly, Welch said she felt called to raise awareness for early detection after she recognized the impact she could have on the lives of a future generation of women.
In recognition of this national movement, the Women's Center will host a number of events in order to promote awareness. All month long, the committee is collecting new or gently used hats for patients at the Gynecologic Treatment Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. According to chemotherapy nurses there, the patients love getting hats and the opportunity to receive a gift while going through treatment. Hats can be dropped off at the Women's Center, Multicultural Center Suite 209 and at information and resource tables in the Union Concourse on Sept. 18, 26 and 30 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The table also will have featured handouts, symptom cards and teal ribbons for people looking for more information.
On Sept. 15, the city of Macomb and the WIU Macomb campus will be turned teal with a "Turn The Towns Teal" campaign to promote awareness of ovarian cancer and its silent symptoms. The event will kick off at 4 p.m. in the Women's Center Lounge, on the first floor of the Multicultural Center, with Macomb Mayor Mike Inman and WIU President Jack Thomas signing a proclamation declaring September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month for WIU and Macomb. The proclamation reads in part:
"We call upon citizens, government agencies, organizations, health-care providers and research institutions to raise ovarian cancer awareness and continue helping Americans live longer, healthier lives. And we urge women across the country to talk to their health-care providers and learn more about this disease."
Following the proclamation signing, there will be a screening of "The Fight of Our Life," a 30-minute documentary about the lives of three women battling ovarian cancer. Volunteers then will tie ribbons throughout the Macomb square and around campus. Students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome to attend the proclamation signing, documentary screening and the "Turn the Towns Teal event."
Women's Center director Janine Cavicchia said she learned about Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the Turn the Towns Teal campaign from Mason three years ago.
"The Women's Center staff and Feminist Action Alliance members are sending our friend and former student worker and student leader Jennifer Mason and her family our thoughts, prayers and support as she continues to wage her three and one-half year battle with ovarian cancer," said Cavicchia. "Jennifer continues to inspire us with her strength, courage, faith, positive attitude and sense of humor."
For more information, contact Cavicchia at (309) 298-2242 or J-Cavicchia@wiu.edu. To learn more about "Turn the Towns Teal," visit turnthetownsteal.org. To learn more about ovarian cancer, visit cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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