WSSU to host second annual, two-day Cancer Awareness Event this week
A cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence, and that’s part of the message Winston-Salem State University wants to convey at its second annual Cancer Awareness Event.
The two-day event begins Thursday, March 21, when the university will hold a Cancer Professionals Panel Discussion from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Donald J. Reeves Student Activities Center Room 100. This is a free but catered program so RSVP is required. To RSVP, email Lori Welborn at hineslw@wssu.edu.
Day 2 is Friday, March 22, at the WSSU Practice Field from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include a Paint N Chat at 11 a.m.; a Cancer Awareness Walk/Run from noon to 1 p.m.; and concluding with a Celebration of Life from 1-2 p.m.
It is important to have this Cancer Awareness Event to assist with bringing awareness to all types of cancer, said Dr. Cassandra Wineglass, WSSU associate professor of healthcare management and director of the university’s CEO Roundtable on Cancer efforts.
“The goal is to educate about early detection, prevention and if diagnosed, possible treatments. If asked the question, ‘Has cancer impacted your family and/or friends?’ The answer will be ‘yes.’ While a diagnosis of cancer may occur, fortunately, because of advance therapy and treatments, survival rates are better. Highlighting and providing education about cancer ensures the African American community has a better chance of survival,” she said.
Last year, WSSU joined more than 200 private, nonprofit and governmental organizations across the country in earning its CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation from the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. Gold Standard accreditation means WSSU established programs to reduce cancer risk by taking concrete actions in the following areas: emphasizing prevention by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting healthy lifestyles through physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that encourage detection of cancer at its earliest stages; ensuring access to quality care and allowing participation in cancer clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.
“We are asking everyone to share this information with people in their network,” Wineglass said. “Come out and have discussions with professionals in this area, hear testimony from a cancer survivor and fellowship with our community.”
About Winston-Salem State University: Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region, and beyond. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment.
