"Faith for a Cure"

As a total amount, including business donations and individual donations, I raised $1800. I was extremely pleased with this amount as I exceeded my goal of $1500! :)

Here I was able to feel the breast model for lumps in order to better feel lumps that could be cancerous versus lumps that are due to tissue formations.

I learned how to maneuver the mammogram machine in order to get the most accurate pictures of a woman's breast. (top picture) I then was able to confidentially read other women's mammograms to understand what doctors and nurses look for when reading the results. (bottom picture)

Newspaper Article in the Harrisburg Horizons!

Helping Others learn about breast health!

I presented Mrs. Hicks with a $1300 check (top picture) and the

monetary donations from that morning!

Here we all are walking the trails!

Mrs. Hicks cut the ribbon to begin the walk!

Before the walk began, I opened up the event with a little bit of information concerning myself, the senior project, my personal topic, and breast cancer!

I set up the donators sign and began decorating the shelter with pink and white balloons! Then, I took the balloons left over and highlighted the walking trail for everyone to follow later that morning!

After setting up a breast cancer informational table, I was ready to supply others with answers to any questions that they may have about screening options. I had self-exam shower cards available for all women in order to remind them monthly to participate in their monthly breast exams!

Community Benevolence

I was extremely impressed by the community support that I have received throughout my senior project. So many individuals and businesses reached out to aid such a great cause! I had a newspaper article in the Harrisburg Horizons, an announcement at both CCHS and CC Griffin Middle School, along with short paragraphs in local church bulletins to advertise for the special day! I had so many phone calls wanting to send checks in the mail or asking what they could do to help. I am convinced that we have the most benevolent community in North Carolina! :) I am still in shock at the community support, and I am so excited that the project went so smoothly! I could have never completed this project without the help of others in the community and the overall impact would have never reached the height that it did without their help! I will post a picture of the contributor sign that was displayed at the walk in case anyone wants to patronize them for their generosity! I know that I will make it a point to give each one of them business if given the opportunity!

The PRODUCT! :)

My product is now complete! :) Yesterday morning, bright and early, I woke up to head out to Frank Liske Park! I couldn't believe that the day had come so quickly! It honestly feels like just last week we were submitting our topic approvals for the senior graduation project!

The walk went absolutely great! The weather was beautiful and there were not any major mishaps that occurred that morning! I had a great turnout that added to my projects success! The morning began by blowing up balloons, preparing the snow ball machine, setting the balloons on the walking trail, organizing the breast health table, and icing the drinks! Panera donated about three bags full of bread, bagels, and pastries that everyone munched on all morning! The entire set-up process went wonderfully! I was very nervous that we would be unable to get everything set up in time, but with the help of my family, the morning ran extremely smoothly. By about 9:15, I began to welcome everyone to the breast cancer walk, and I explained the project and my involvement thus far! Mrs. Hicks cut the ribbon signalling the beginning of the walk, and we were off on a 1.5 journey through the trails at Frank Liske Park!

Whenever we got back to the shelter, I thanked everyone for coming and presented both Mrs. Hicks and my aunt Stacy (a breast cancer survivor as well) with beautiful bracelets made by 'The Bead Lady' located in Concord. She hand made breast cancer bracelets and graciously donated them to Mrs. Hicks and my aunt after hearing about my project. Then, the moment came that I had been waiting for the entire day. I presented Mrs. Hicks with a check for $1300!!! This amount only covered the business contributors. I then gave Mrs. Hicks $300 from that day's monetary cash donations. Therefore, I was at a total of $1600 before including all of the personal checks that I had received at the walk as well as the personal checks that I had received in the mail. I have no idea what the grand total will be; although, I know that I have reached my goal! In the beginning, I set a goal of $1500 in the back on my mind. It feels great to have achieved this goal without even counting all of the other money! I can not wait to calculate the grand total and deliver another check to Mrs. Hicks!

Mrs. Hicks was extremely excited and thankful for all of my hard work along with the community support! I know that she felt honored, and I was glad to be able to help her in any way that I could. She is such an inspiration to not only me, but all of her students! She makes a personal initiative to reach out to every student and encourage them to succeed! She has made a great impact on my life along with so many others! The walk was a huge success, and I could not have asked for a better end to my senior project!

Last Meeting!

Today, I finished my last meeting with my mentor! We discussed the final plans that needed to be complete before the walk, and went over last minute questions! At the walk, I will be answering any questions concerning breast health screening options while my mentor will be there to discuss any questions on the actual treatment (since that was not part of my research). I was able to actually go into the MRI room and see the equipment used as well as looking at the confidential results of a positive and negative test. I was also able to learn more about ultrasounds which are evolving into a screening tool that can be used to successfully locate lumps in the breast. I was able to see confidential test results from this as well. Along with working with my mentor, I met Julia Jones today. She works directly with screening processes while my mentor works with the entire breast health department at Northeast. We all walked around the new breast health center discussing any other questions that I may need to know before Saturday.
I have learned so much from my mentor over the last several months! She is an amazing woman who impacts so many individual's lives by just her positive nature! I was so blessed to have such a compassionate mentor! She was amazing through the entire project! She devoted so much time to helping me when she was extremely busy herself. I am thankful that I was able to learn and meet with her so frequently! I have learned information that will assist me throughout the rest of my life!
Now, all that is left is the finale: The walk! I cannot wait! I have been working extremely hard for the past several months for this to be a success! Hopefully, there will be a good turnout! I am very anxious! :)

Hours are almost Complete! :)

Today, I met with my mentor for one of the last times. I took an official tour of the breast cancer/radiation center and was able to learn more about the actual treatment aspect of my topic. Since my topic deals directly with early sceening alternatives, such as mammograms and MRI's, this was new to me! :) After, I was able to meet and learn about two new patients and their situations, I learned the screening options that they utilized and how their cancer has turned out accordingly. Although one found the breast cancer very late, I was able to personally meet the other woman. While she was finishing up her chemo treatments, I was amazed at her vivacity and excitement to go on with her life. She was an inspiration to me after having frequent rounds of chemotherapy since October. She was ready to get her life back, and I was very fortunate to meet such a determined woman. Every day that I spend at the cancer center, I become even more passionate about my project! I know that in the future, I want to continually assist breast cancer patients. The most important thing that I have learned is that encouragement and support is the best medicine for any breast cancer victim. They need love and optimism to fill their lives, which is such an easy way for the community to be involved! I have one more session with my mentor before my breast cancer walk! I am very excited and nervous as the date of my walk approaches!