Madison Park Elementary School, Breast Cancer Awareness Week
Madison Park Elementary School, Phoenix, AZ
Project: Breast Cancer Awareness Week
Adviser: Leah Jenks
Last October, the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter at Madison Park Elementary School held a week-long fundraiser for breast cancer. They learned that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and set out to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Research Foundation. This foundation not only works to find a cure for breast cancer but also raises awareness about breast cancer. The original goal of the project was to raise $1,000 for the foundation to assist in its efforts to research new treatments to help those who have been diagnosed.
On Friday, October 2, the entire school filed into the gymnasium, and NJHS students presented a slideshow on the prevalence and consequences of breast cancer. The assembly included a breast cancer survivor who spoke of her experience fighting and surviving this horrible disease. The chapter then asked the student body to show their support throughout the coming week by buying pink breast cancer awareness bracelets, sharing the names of breast cancer victims and survivors, and by helping "paint the campus pink" during a special pink casual dress day.
During the week of October 5, NJHS members sold 600 breast cancer awareness bracelets for a dollar each before school. Families and students wore the bracelets every day that week and continued after the week was over. Many parents and children purchased the bracelets to give to friends and family members as well. Students and teachers filled out pink ribbons with the name of a loved one that had breast cancer, both those who survived and those who lost their battle with the disease. More than 100 ribbons were displayed in the school cafeteria for the week in remembrance of their struggle with cancer.
Finally, on Friday, October 9, the chapter hosted a pink "dress down" day (students normally wear uniforms.) The chapter encouraged students to dress in pink for $1, or pay $2 and dress in any color they chose, if they did not own pink attire. Seventy-five percent of the student body, more than 520 students, came to school wearing pink or breast cancer awareness shirts.
The entire week was an amazing success. The number of students who participated in the various events was higher than expected, and the project was recognized for its significance in the Arizona Republic's local Phoenix section. The members kept a person-sized ribbon in the cafeteria that was colored as the total grew from donations and bracelet sales. By the end of the week, the ribbon was full and the goal was exceeded. The chapter raised more than $1,500 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, $500 dollars more than the original goal.
Although they exceeded their monetary goal, the real achievement was in the way the student body and faculty of Madison Park worked together in their effort to raise awareness and help prevent cases of breast cancer. The sea of pink shirts on campus was evidence of the unity and teamwork. The members of NJHS were ecstatic to see the results of their efforts and to know how many people they were helping. The chapter is eager to repeat and expand the event next year.