Remission club spreads hope and awareness across Lee's campus
Photo by Sarah Graver
Remission club started in the spring of 2014 works to spread awareness, support and donations for those diagnosed with cancer on and off Lee University's campus. Remission created by Junior Lauren Kukla, a cancer survivor herself, wanted to spread awareness and support for those who have dealt with the crippling disease.
'If anything happens that is unpredictable someone being diagnosed, someone losing their battle anything like that we want to be there,' Kukla said. 'Whether it is getting flowers together, or a poster or having everyone wear pink just anything we can think of to be there for [those suffering from cancer] we want to support them any way we can.'
On Feb. 4, in correlation with World Cancer Day, Remission decorated the Humanities building with facts about survival rates in different countries. The event was put together by The Union for International Cancer Control in order to dispel myths and misconceptions about cancer, as well as teach ways to prevent it.
'[World Cancer Day is] all about prevention, the steps you can take to prevent it with foods and exercises, as well as different kinds of facts from all over the world and coming together to prevent it, because cancer is something that is all over the world unfortunately,' Kukla said.
Along with putting together events to raise awareness, Remission also works to raise money for Dream Connection, a nonprofit organization that fulfills the special dreams of kids from 3-18 who face life threatening or chronically debilitating illnesses in East Tennessee.
Freshman Officer in Remission Ian Skeirik, said raising money for Dream Connection is very important to the club because many of the members have also faced serious health issues in the past.
'I can totally relate to [being sick] because I spent four years in the hospital as a kid, so when I heard about this [club] I thought these kids are like me, I've got to help,' Skeirik said. 'If anyone can help those kids [and relate] it's someone who has actually been through it. Many people in this club would just hit it out of the ball park, me included [because we've been there].'
It's the ability to relate to those who have been affected by cancer that motivates many of the Remission members.
'My mom is a nine year cancer survivor of breast cancer,' Jennifer McDowell, graduate student and secretary of Remission said. 'I joined because of my mom because she is a survivor, and now I do it because of my friend who was just recently diagnosed with brain cancer.'
Cancer is widespread and far reaching according to The American Cancer Society, estimating in 2014 alone 855,220 men and 810,320 women will be newly diagnosed.
'My hope would be that more people show awareness [for cancer] because it [can often be] put on the back burner,' Mcdowell said. ' [We need to] show the campus that cancer is real, it affected people on our campus, and it's affected people outside of our campus, even our own family members.'
Cancer can be a devastating disease, but Mcdowell said that showing support can sometimes be the best medicine.
'With my own experience with my mom, the way that she was able to heal, she told me was because of my encouraging words to her. She said, 'When I wanted to give up you wouldn't let me give up and that's what kept me fighting,' Mcdowell said. 'I think that's what needs to be done, we need to fight for the people who can't fight for themselves and encourage them so they can push on and fight the good fight.'
