Homecoming Royalty

Inter-Club Council Meeting on Oct. 20

Healthcare clubs raise cancer awareness

By Joanne Choi

Cancer awareness week came to an end on Oct. 17 with the annual Tackle Cancer football game. Attendees were encouraged to wear pink and the football booster also sold Tackle Cancer t-shirts with proceeds donated to the KM Legacy Foundation. The foundation also hosts other fundraising events throughout the year, with the next one being the KM Legacy Walk on Thanksgiving: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Fullerton/KindnessMattersWalk. 

Moreover, three new student-led healthcare clubs at FUHS “tackle” cancer beyond October. Aspiring Healthcare Leaders, A Thousand Ribbons, and Med Minds all share a mission to raise awareness about cancer while providing an opportunity for students to learn more about the medical field. 

Aspiring Healthcare Leaders meet every other Monday during lunch in Room 10. Junior Ava James founded this club to give students opportunities to explore healthcare careers and connect with people who share similar goals.

“I just really wanted to create opportunities for people who hope to go into the healthcare field to really explore their interests in high school,” said James, “They can build their resumes while also connecting with people who have similar goals and interests.”

James also hopes to bring in guest speakers with real-world medical experience.

“I’m trying to get people who have inside knowledge to come and share their expertise. It might help people in their decisions about their own futures,” James said.

Her passion for healthcare sprouts from her own experiences with compassionate medical professionals. 

“They lean into their humanity, and they try to act with their compassion. Because even though this is their job, they see so many patients in a day,” she said. “They remember that this is a very important moment in people’s lives, and it’s important to really have a connection with them.”

Additionally, A Thousand Ribbons meets every Wednesday in Room 33. Founding junior Maya Snow explains that they learn about a different type of cancer each month and organize fundraisers to spread kindness to patients.

The club hosts an information meeting where they brainstorm fundraisers and go over the type of cancer of that month. For example, at their last meeting, they discussed breast cancer and its effect on women and their families. They also created Letters of Love for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, sending encouraging messages to young cancer patients in the hospital.

“We just wanted to give them thoughtful messages and tell them that we believe in them and that they can do it,” Snow said.

Snow also hopes to one day become a pediatrician.

“I’ve always wanted to help people. Being a doctor has always been my main goal,” Snow said. “Helping kids with cancer has always been one of my dreams.”

The final club, Med Minds, meets on the first and last Friday of each month in Room 12. Founded by sophomore Camila Quesada, the club focuses on introducing students to a variety of medical topics while having a supportive community for future healthcare professions.

“We’re not only focused on cancer but that’s one of the branches,” said Quesada, “It’s more about informing ourselves about different diseases and learning about medicine in general.”

During meetings, members participate in interactive, medically-themed activities such as bingo and card-making for hospital patients.

“We want it to be fun and social,” said Quesada, “It’s not just about medicine. It’s also about creating a community where people can meet others with the same interests.”

Queseda says she founded Med Minds because of her dream of becoming a doctor, specifically an oncologist.

“My family has a history of cancer, and it’s been tough, but it’s also motivated me to want to help others,” said Quesada, “That’s what inspired me to create this club.”

The club also plans to volunteer shifts at local hospitals and organizations, as well as a Panda Express fundraiser. In early November, members will begin a cancer research project focused on lesser-known or rare cancers. 

“Everyone will be split into groups to research cancers that people don’t often hear about,” said Queseda, “We want to raise awareness about the ones that get less attention.”

Fall play opens Nov. 7