An Ugly Club
Talawanda High school senior Sam Robinson, who has recently committed to University of Cincinnati to continue his soccer career, was ready to fly through his senior year and enjoy the last little bits of high school he had. Instead, Sam faced one of the most traumatic experiences he has, and will ever face: Sam lost his mother to breast cancer over the summer. Robinson’s mom worked at the highschool as a English language learners (ELL) teacher. Mrs. Robinson was a beloved coworker and proud supporter of all school and club teams her four sons played on. Robinson said that unity of the survivors and their family is something that he would like to share with people going through this fight, “I would say that it might feel like it, but they are not alone, I remember talking to Mr. Meece one time and he said ‘It’s an ugly club were in, but at least we’re in a club’”.
Mr. Meece who has been teaching at the highschool for many years lost his wife and best friend over the summer. Although he lost his wife way sooner than he expected, Meece said, “We were married for 30 years and despite the breast cancer we had a great 30 years.” Mr. Meece’s biggest supporters have been his closest friends who have done so much for him in a troubling time. Meece said, “When you go through something like this people rally for you, and they do stuff for you, and they do amazing things, they bring meals, gift cards, they cut your grass.” Meece explained that the support he got from his friends and still is receiving is unbelievable.
About 1 in 8 U.S women will be affected by invasive breast cancer in some part of her life and 40,920 diagnosed women are expected to die in 2018. Chances are someone who you love or care for has either been diagnosed or in some way been affected by this deadly disease, so what is the Talawanda community doing?
Talawanda High School had a number events to support the survivors, people that we have lost, and the family and friends of everyone affected. One event is the annual Volley for a Cure, or Dig Pink. This event happened on the first of October, the volleyball team with the help of the schools FCLA group arranged the night with raffles, split the pot, and a silent auction. The gym was decorated in all pink including pink volleyballs, tape, posters and streamers. This was a way to raise money for foundations who are either helping the survivors or looking for a cure to cancer.
The second event Talawanda High school had was the football game which had a pink theme. In previous years money has gone to a family at the high school whose mother or family had been suffering from cancer, shirts, bracelets, and other pink things were sold and donations accepted at the game of hopes to contributing money during a long and strenuous time.
Even though the month for breast cancer awareness is coming to an end, we as a community must rally for these families. We need to rally for the Talawanda District and the families that are being impacted by this deadly disease.
Many charities are recognized for the support of the fight to end breast cancer, like Breastcancer.org which states that “Every $1 we raise helps 3 women get the care they need now to make the best decisions to protect their precious lives” (Breastcancer.org).
Mr. Meece recalled the day that he had found out that Mrs. Robinson had died: “There was a double rainbow in the sky, and I texted Sammy. I said one of the rainbows is my wife and the other is your mom.” As a community Talawanda should continue to support these families and the rainbows that follow.
