Students share experiences with cancer
About 40 people gathered in the Commons Plaza for a candlelight vigil to honor cancer victims, survivors and others who have been affected by the disease. The VCU chapter of Kappa Phi Gamma sorority sponsored the vigil for the first time. It was a part of the sorority’s C.
About 40 people gathered in the Commons Plaza for a candlelight vigil to honor cancer victims, survivors and others who have been affected by the disease. The VCU chapter of Kappa Phi Gamma sorority sponsored the vigil for the first time. It was a part of the sorority’s C.A.R.E. (Cancer Awareness, a Real Effort) Week.
“Since April is Cancer Awareness Month, all our sisters nationwide in the month of April pick a week to have C.A.R.E. Week. (This is) a week of events promoting awareness of cancer,” said Vineetha Pillai, Kappa Phi’s secretary.
The vigil featured four VCU speakers-all students affected by cancer in their own way.
– Yogi Singh, senior real estate and urban land development major
Pillai said the vigil was a way for students to share their personal experiences with cancer.
“.The student body can connect with (one) another through a shared struggle,” she said.
Aubrey Cox, a first year radiation sciences major who was diagnosed with cancer in high school, shared with the crowd about learning of his cancer. After going to the doctor for migraines headaches, he found out he had a brain tumor.
“I was diagnosed April 5, 2002, and was cleared July 22, 2002. It was just four years from my surgery on the fifth,” Cox said.
George Freund, a first year radiography major, said brain tumors and different forms of cancer run in his family, though he has not had it.
“All the men in my mother’s side of the family have had different forms of cancer in their head and died from it,” Freund said. “I feel like it’s important for people to get checked regularly, and I wanted to speak about that.”
Yogi Singh, a senior real estate and urban land development major, talked about his mother being diagnosed with breast cancer last October.
“The most important thing we can do is advocate prevention,” Singh said.
Jessica Braden, a Kappa Phi Gamma member, left the crowd in tears after revealing she was diagnosed with cancer a month ago and would be undergoing surgery last weekend. She thanked the crowd for being at the vigil and stressed to them the importance of attending events such as this one.
After listening to the speakers, everyone gathered in a circle and lit their candles during the moment of silence to honor cancer survivors and victims.
