As National Breast Cancer Awareness month draws to a close, some residents on Ohio University's South Green are using their free time to knit and crochet pink scarves to raise money and awareness for the disease.
Every other Tuesday, residents from Wray, Hoover, Dougan and Ewing halls meet in the Wray seminar room to knit and crochet the scarves. At other times, they meet in the mod and watch movies while working on their project.
OU senior Jamie Sopko, 21, an English major from Kent, said her grandmother gave her the idea to make the scarves. Her grandmother was knitting afghans for underprivileged children in Florida when she taught Sopko to knit. Sopko said she thought it would be a perfect community service project for her residence hall to knit scarves for the American Cancer Society.
OU sophomore Brianna Wilson, 19, an early childhood education major from Utica, said she and other students began making the scarves at the end of September.
The goal is to make about 100 scarves in order to raise money for Relay For Life
she said.
OU's Relay For Life is May 20 and 21 in West State Street Park. To participate, groups come to take turns walking or running a course. The goal is to keep one team member walking at all times. The money from this event will go toward cancer research.
Right now we are just trying to get the word out Wilson said.
The group has eight people working to reach its goal. Wilson said anyone can join, regardless of whether he or she knows how to knit.
Gabe Pyers, 20, a sophomore industrial technology major from Wooster, said he did not know how to knit before he decided to help with this project. Pyers has wanted to participate in Relay For Life since high school but was not able to do so because of church and sports involvement.
When he and his girlfriend saw the fliers, they thought it would be a fun thing to do.
Although Pyers knew nothing about knitting, Wilson taught him. Pyers said he has been knitting for four weeks now.
Knitting isn't as bad as I thought it would be
he said. It's a lot of fun
and there's good company. Plus
it relieves some of my boredom. Pyers said that his goal is to finish one scarf.
Once the scarves are complete, the group will sell them Uptown during Parents' Weekend, though a price has not yet been set. Those interested also can contact Wilson for a scarf.
Julie Ellenwood, executive director of the American Cancer Society's Marietta Office, said it is important to get involved.
Everyone you talk to has been in touch with cancer in some way
Ellenwood said.
She said something most people do not know is that some types of cancer can be prevented through physical activity, nutrition and by not smoking.
Knowledge is power. You should help out by raising awareness to help stop this disease
she said.
Ellenwood said students can become involved with Relay For Life by joining a committee or a team to help raise money for cancer research. She said the cancer society also is looking for student volunteers and cancer survivors to form a speaker's bureau. Those interested can contact the society for more information.
17
Archives
