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Gilbert supports staff, fights Cancer
Students dawn pinks to support Cancer Photo by Ciera Thompson
Written by Varun Bajaj - Staff Writer
In 2009, eight million lives were lost due to cancer.
“We [cancer patients] have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell,” said Lance Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, cancer survivor, and the cancer foundation, Live Strong’s founder.
Breast cancer, the second most common cancer, has seriously impacted Gilbert High School. Breast cancer affects nearly one in every five hundred women. Gilbert High School has had two teachers diagnosed with the horrible disease.
Ms. Ellen Fluegel, an English teacher, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer on Jan 20, 2009 at 7:45 pm. Her cancer is between stage 1 and stage 2. Fluegel plans on getting a surgery to get the tumor removed, followed by chemotherapy.
“I am going to fight it with everything I’ve got!” said Fluegel.
Due to her positive outlook on life, she can easily get over the fear of cancer and fight the battle head-on. “As I reassure my family, friends and students that I will be fine, I believe it too.” She and her doctors plan to have her back up to 100% by the fall. One doctor blatantly told her that she’ll have a crappy spring but by fall will have forgotten about the bad times.
Ms. Tally Satterthwaite, Gilbert’s librarian, also fought invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. In February of 2004, Satterthwaite was diagnosed with the disease, and she decided to take out all possible chances of ever having it again.
“‘Just take ‘em off,’ I told the doctors. My mother died from this disease and I don’t want it,” said Ms. S while discussing her fight. “I never felt in danger, ‘cause I caught it so early.” Satterthwaite talks to her students about her fight to help them understand the facts of cancer and how tough it is. “Kids have middle-aged parents going through this, and it’s scary.” She wants people to understand that they should not be ashamed of the disease. She helps women talk about their fight and helps them through their struggle, Satterthwaite has now been cancer free for over six years.
In their first year as a club at Gilbert, Students Against Cancer have been raising money for many foundations and helping to find the cure. The club started out the year by raising money for both the Foundation with Cancer and the Breast Cancer Society, for whom they raised nearly $2,000. In April, the Students Against Cancer club will host the Relay for Life at Gilbert High.
“We are dedicated towards raising money for different foundations and helping find the cure and helping those who we’ve lost and those who have had to suffer through cancer” said club president, Jared Burgess. The club meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Ms. Gallegos’ room 2308.
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