St. Augustine’s College (SAC) students and staff did away with the red for a day to recognize the power and purpose of pink, donning the pastel color to recognize and honor cancer fighters, those who have overcome and are now survivors, and those who fought valiantly, but lost the battle.
On Friday, October 22, they wore pink paraphernalia and donated all funds collected to the Cancer Society of The Bahamas (CSOB).
The day of recognition on the Big Red Machine campus honored many people on the school’s campus, including math teacher of three-plus decades, Maureen Chambers, who was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer more than a decade ago, is in remission, and continuing to teach at the institution.
“Any show of support in this fight is always uplifting,” said Chambers.
Chambers’ cancer was detected early at stage one because of her commitment to getting annual wellness checks, after her mom, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, died.
Even though Chambers’ cancer is in remission, she said she finds it difficult to feel relief.
“It can come back at any time. I have friends who went through chemo, but the cancer came back and they are no longer with us.”
She encourages everyone, including men, to not let fear cripple them and prevent them from going to the doctor whether they suspect they may have cancer or not.
“Going to the doctor saved my life,” said Chambers.
In March 2012, she had a mastectomy.
“I was naïve in thinking that I would be able to return to school before the end of the school year, but chemo knocked me out,” said the 58-year-old. She was able to return to school the following school year in September 2012.
While the SAC family did not lose its veteran teacher, other staff members have had first-hand experience of how devastating losing someone to breast cancer can be.
Terrance Pratt, English teacher, and head of the English department, lost his mother to the illness in 2006. He remembers her having fought valiantly for 18 years.
Sonya Smith, religion teacher, lost her close friend, Lovenia “Julie” Munnings, almost two decades ago.
“We met in seventh grade, 7C homeroom at SAC, and graduated in 1981. Our friendship lasted until her death in 2002. She was the godmother of my daughters and I am the godmother of her sons. She was a sweet soul, loving, compassionate, gentle, and loved life,” said Smith. “I don’t recall her ever complaining about her illness. I thank God for my memories of her and look forward to seeing her again.”
English teacher Charlain Collins’ friend, Elaine Pople-Pierre, who had breast cancer, died in August, three years after her diagnosis.
“I miss her dearly and I cannot get over it,” said Collins. “She was only 40 [years old].”
Joanna Bain, head of the social studies department, lost her college friend, Renae Johnson, who died in her 50s. “She had breast cancer, underwent chemotherapy, and it was in remission. Then, it came back aggressively in her arm,” said Bain.
She also lost her lifelong friend, Kathryn Glass-Gibson, in 2019. “It was difficult seeing her in pain, and it hit home because she was younger than me. She died at [age] 40.”
Bain’s aunt succumbed one month after she passed.
The post Big Red Machine campus takes on a pink hue for a day appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/big-red-machine-campus-takes-on-a-pink-hue-for-a-day/
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