Landing a Cure for Cancer

Welcome to the first unit of Journalism, the first senior humanities course. In the first unit, we explored the news values. These values are impact, immediacy, prominence, proximity, and conflict. These represent the values of any news source. We looked at these values in specific examples from news articles from all different time periods. In my article, I specifically used the value of impact. I wrote about the impact of an event on the community. We went on a field experience to the Newton Wienberg Gallery to look at a photography exhibit. For this action project, we had to write our own article on a specific event or conflict. My best friend Lily, who I have skated with for a long time with was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My skating rink put on a benefit to raise money for cancer research. I chose to write about this event as it was an important event for the community. I really liked this project and I am very proud of how it came out. 

Landing a Cure for Cancer

By: CM

In Oak Park, there is a dedicated group of figure skaters. This group practices diligently at Ridgeland Commons Ice Arena in Oak Park. In a sport as intense and strenuous as figure skating, people become close. The skaters at Ridgeland are like a family. Practicing, performing, and competing together. So when someone in the community needs support, people come together.

The flyer for the event.
Lily Scully "Flyer" (2019)

16-year-old Lily is an active participant at the rink and has been skating for many years. In March of 2019, Lily was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She had always known something was wrong. She has always been prone to sickness. She hadn’t been feeling right for over a year when she noticed the lump growing on her neck. “I just knew it was something,'' said Lily. She asked one of her fellow skaters who studies medicine what she should do. It was suggested that she see a specialist, who then made the diagnosis. When she broke the news to her fellow skaters, they knew they had to support her through her journey.

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck. The purpose of the thyroid is to regulate hormones. The 2 hormones produced by the thyroid are Triiodothyronine (T3) Thyroxine (T4). These hormones help regulate how the body uses its energy. According to the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association, there are 15.4 cases per million adolescents ages 15-19. Females are slightly more at risk for thyroid cancer. Lily had to undergo a thyroidectomy where her entire thyroid was surgically removed, as well as radiation therapy. Since she had her thyroid removed, Lily will have to take medication to replace the job of her thyroid for the rest of her life.

The community came together to put on an exhibition on Saturday, September 21. The goal was to raise money for the Wellness House in Hinsdale and ThyCa association. The proceeds will help the Wellness House expand their teen programs, and will help ThyCa research cancer treatment. “Even though I am sick, I am so happy to be able to give back to the people who have helped me,'' said Lily.
The event was organized by Lily and her parents, as well as her coach and other rink staff members and friends. The event was a big success. There were raffles and a silent auction, as well as free food and drink donated to the event. The event attracted many people, the lobby was filled with people mingling and buying raffle tickets. The main event was a skating exhibition where 30 of Lily’s fellow skaters paid tribute to her by skating to her past music. This was a surprise to Lily. “I had no idea what was going on! I only noticed when they started skating to my solo music. It was so special.”

The night ended with a celebration of Lily. The raffle winners were announced, and silent auctions were closed. Lily and her family were embraced by the supporters. “This truly means everything to us.” said Tim Lily’s father.” “When your community comes together, it’s incredible. The support shown for Lily is more than we could have asked for.” Cathy Brown, Lily’s coach helped coordinate the event. “This is so important to raise awareness for. I’m so happy we can raise money to find a cure.” By the next day, the total money raised was over $15,000 which was donated to both the Wellness House and ThyCa.

Lily, third row, far right, and her friends from school in the stands at the event.
Margaret Scully "Friends" (2019)

In the end, I really enjoyed this project. I liked how I was able to cover something in my personal life that I care deeply about. I am happy with the quotes I got, and I am very happy with how the event turned out. We raised $15,000 for cancer research, and for the Wellness House. I hope I can do more action projects relating to my personal life in the future!

Summer Volunteering in my Hometown

Over this summer, I spent most of my time in my home town as I usually do. I am from a very small town in Wisconsin called Bayfield. It's as far north as you can go on the shores of Lake Superior. My dad's side of the family is all from this area. One of my great grandfathers was a commercial fisherman on the lake, and the other was a doctor who ran the tuberculosis sanitorium in town. My family has a very deep history in this town and I have learned a lot about it in my years of growing up both there and in the Chicago area.

CM "House" (2019)

This summer was different than summers in the past. I usually spend summers in Bayfield and in the past few years I have worked at various restaurants while living with my grandparents and spending time with friends and family. This year, my grandfather's health was declining. This meant they couldn't stay for the whole summer. I had spent some time with my family as a family vacation but then went back to Chicago with my grandparents. I then went back up north with my grandparents and my dad in early August. My grandparents both work closely as volunteers with the local historical association. The Bayfield Historical Association. The BHA as it is known around town is a non-profit organization founded in the 1980s. My grandparents have been with the organization since it's founding. There is a museum in town that has different exhibits about the history of Bayfield. These include the history of the islands, fishing, logging, hunting, the great flood and more. Recently, the BHA acquired a model train from a local man named Larry Wrighton. The Wrightons are a local family with deeps history in Bayfield, as well as my names (LaPointe and Moody). Larry Wrighton created a to-scale model railroad of historic Bayfield in the 1920s. He had been working on this project since the early 1990s. He donated it to the BHA in 2016. The BHA took it apart and put it back together in the basement of the museum as an exhibit on historical Bayfield.

My job was to be a docent at the exhibit. I already knew a lot about the history of Bayfield, so I was oriented by a long-time friend Bill Gover. He told me all about the trains and how they were made and assembled. I then had my first shift. I would show visitors the train and the town and tell them about the history of Bayfield. I answered their questions and told them about my family and my own history in Bayfield.

I thought this was a very cool experience I was able to have. I got to learn more about my town's history and got to educate tourists on how special this town really is. I got to make more connections with friends and the management at the BHA. In the end, this was a very fun and meaningful way to spend some of my time over the summer.

CM "Deer" (2019)