Weinstein Center widens focus of campus cancer awareness month

The Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness expanded the scope of its cancer awareness month campaign, shifting the focus from breast cancer to all types of cancer this year for the first time.

Tracy Cassalia, manager of Health Education and Wellness, said because so many faculty, staff and students had been affected by cancer, she didn't want to limit the awareness efforts to only one type. A table with bowls of ribbons - designated by color for certain cancers - sits at the entrance to the gym. People can take ribbons and pin them to their shirts as they come in. Cassalia said the bowls have had to be refilled a few times already.

Informational pamphlets and plastic models with directions for breast and testicular cancer detection are also available at the table. There are also instruction tags in all the showers of the women's locker rooms about breast cancer detection.

New to the gym is a pink treadmill that donates 10 cents to breast cancer research for every mile walked or run on it. Cassalia said the goal was to have at least 500 miles on it by the end of the month.

"The treadmill is a great way to donate to a cause and get healthy in your own way," she said.

Cassalia also scheduled a derma scan, which evaluates sun damage, for Oct. 20, but no space is left because the sign-up filled within 10 minutes, she said.

There was also a Brown Bag Lunch on nutrition and cancer held Oct. 22. On Nov. 19, the gym will be promoting The Great American Smokeout, a day dedicated to encouraging smokers to abstain for 24 hours.

Cassalia said she had been glad to see people wearing ribbons, examining the breast and testicular cancer models and taking informational pamphlets.

"I'd like to see more people on the pink treadmill," she said. "Sometimes it lays quiet."

Contact staff writer Avril Lighty at avril.lighty@richmond.edu