BY EMMA HUERTA
Since 1985, the month of October has been deemed National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Here at CCHS, students volunteer and donate to raise awareness of the disease.
From October 16 to October 30, Future Medical Professionals of America (FMPA) will be collecting gently used or new clothing in order to help out the cause. The clothing will then be donated to the Florida Breast Cancer Association.
“Every family in some way– directly or indirectly– is going to be affected by cancer,” Gallimore said.
The drive was created by sophomore Robin Thomas, FMPA’s current president. Over the summer, a personal experience, as well as some research, sparked his idea to create the project for the club.
“This past summer I went through my clothes and found a lot of old, gently used clothes that I never really wear,” Thomas said. “And then I found this organization that uses the clothes to either give to the actual breast cancer patients or to get some type of profit from [selling] it to benefit other breast cancer organizations.”
This is FMPA’s first year doing a clothing drive; FMPA members can donate a minimum of 10 clothing items for two service hours. CCHS students who are not involved in the club can also donate old clothing by turning in their donation to the FMPA sponsor Chris Gallimore.
The significance of the project can be seen in the vast effects that breast cancer– or any other kind of cancer– can have on a family. Over time, cancer has increasingly made its mark on many people’s lives, affecting numerous individuals within the world’s population.
“Every family in some way– directly or indirectly– is going to be affected by cancer,” Gallimore said. “Cancer is a disease that goes across all nationalities and ethnic groups. This is something that is [fairly] common. And, it is not something to be afraid of but something to try to make a difference in.”
Whether it be by donating basic necessities like clothing or even just simply raising awareness throughout the school, FMPA strives to contribute to issues like breast cancer awareness and to help individuals in the community affected by the disease.
FMPA members can donate a minimum of 10 clothing items for two service hours. CCHS students who are not involved in the club can also donate old clothing by turning in their donation to the FMPA sponsor.
“I think that the clothing drive will help raise awareness for breast cancer and maybe this will also spark inspiration for people to go raise money for breast cancer [awareness], go to a walk or to donate money or their clothes,” Thomas said. “Any little thing helps and if my club and I make a difference, then it’s all worth it.
Besides benefitting the breast cancer patients and families impacted by the disease, this project (as well as other upcoming FMPA events) teaches the students and faculty of CCHS about the importance of learning about cancer and helping those affected by it. FMPA students can pursue their passion for medicine by participating in events such as the clothing drive, as it brings them closer to the medical field and community.
“Being in FMPA is an amazing opportunity to get a glimpse of what the medical field is like,” FMPA Vice President Anita Emokpae said. “We [also] hear from various medical professionals and their work and medical school experience.”
Photo by Kayla Florenco
