For most college students, September is a month to enjoy. The craziness of moving in is over, and midterms are still a month away. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back at Starbucks and dressing like a pirate can score free Krispy Kreme donuts on National Talk Like a Pirate Day. The weather is finally cooling off and football is in full swing. However, for members of Bears Battling Cancer, September has a completely different meaning.
Bears Battling Cancer (BBC) is an organization that supports the St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis Tennessee. According to BBC President Gina John, “Most people are not aware that the hospital treats all patients completely free of charge to entirely remove the financial burden that the parents would otherwise have to bear. It is also one of the pioneering hospitals for treatment advancement since they conduct research in their facilities and then use newly acquired knowledge to better treat its patients. As an organization, our goal is to contribute to the fantastic efforts of the hospital to fight against childhood cancer.”
September is nationally recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Researchers and charities across the country plan events and advertising campaigns to raise awareness and funds. Bears Battling Cancer will be hosting an awareness week here at Mercer. “This Thursday we will have students sign a banner with their support for the fight against childhood cancer. Students that wear red to the table to symbolize one of the St. Jude colors will receive a donut. It is a really simple way to show your support for the mission of our organization!” All students are welcome to join BBC and help St. Jude fight cancer. There is also a place for students who don’t have time to join but still want to help.
“If someone does not want to become a member of BBC, there are still plenty of ways to participate. This past Monday, Chili’s had a “Donate Profits Day” in conjunction with their “Give Back, Give Hope” campaign. All students had to do was eat at Chili’s and 100% of the proceeds went to St. Jude. According to the general manager at the restaurant, Mercer students alone raised around $700 for the hospital in one night! We are planning on holding more restaurant nights where all students would have to do is order a meal and a portion of the proceeds would go to the hospital! We will also have other fundraising events throughout the year that all students are welcome to participate in! Beyond the fundraising aspect, we also aim to raise awareness for the hospital and childhood cancer as a whole. We have awareness weeks with different smaller events that students are able to participate in. Also, liking our Facebook page, “Mercer Bears Battling Cancer- BBC” to stay current on everything we are doing.”
So as you are enjoying all the wonderful things September has to offer, take a minute to like Mercer Bears Battling Cancer on Facebook, participate in an awareness event, or donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.