Kaitlin Hayes
Meramec is the only STLCC campus that hosts the event.
“It’s important that students learn from their peers,” Donna Halsband, Meramec service learning coordinator, said. “They’re more likely to listen and relate to them.”
Cancer Awareness Day was organized by Jody Martin de Camilo, biology teacher; nursing instructor Stephanie Franks and Halsband. Booths were set up along each side of the quad where nursing students from Meramec educated students, faculty and staff on types of cancer ranging from pancreatic to skin cancer.
Also, free mammograms were offered by BJC HealthCare in the campus parking lot.
Cancer Awareness Day began approximately eight years ago when Martin de Camilo was showing her biology students how to test themselves for cancer. Five men found out they had testicular cancer. One was near death and didn’t know.
Since then, Meramec has set aside a day every year to raise awareness.
The booths were operated by nursing students of the college. After visiting three or more booths, students received a free lunch.
Nursing student Julie Longstreet said students responded well to the fair and seemed to be genuinely interested in better educating themselves.
“People are asking a lot of good questions, which we appreciate,” Longstreet said.
Five years ago, Joe Terracina had his voice box removed. He suffered from throat cancer and now talks with the assistance of an artificial larynx.
Terracina, a no-smoking advocate, operated a booth at the fair to inform students of the dangers of smoking. He said he never wanted to see a student have to go through what he did.
“If we could prevent one person from smoking, it would make our day,” Terracina said.
Correction: an earlier caption incorrectly listed the names of those identified in the photo.
