Campus Beautiful Gets a Touch of Gold

Concord’s campus has been dotted with gold ribbons lately as the Concord Social Work Organization (CSWO) works to raise awareness of childhood cancer. From September 14 to September 18, the CSWO had set a table on the bottom floor of the student center, raising money for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of the month and an especially needy family, the CSWO dedicated their 50/50 raffle to collecting donations for #TEAMALEX. 

#TEAMALEX serves as a representation of Alex, a victim of childhood cancer. Alex experienced his diagnosis as an infant and has recently been diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Complications led to the loss of the eye and teeth on the boy’s left side. He will soon receive a glass eye and dentures, though his family’s insurance will not cover the procedures and they will become an expense to fall upon his family. To assist with Alex’s upcoming procedures, the CSWO plans on donating their half of the 50/50 to the boy and his family.

Katie Radcliffe, President of the CSWO, maintains that this is exactly the sort of cause the Concord Social Work Organization is happy to help with, saying, “It’s a larger issue than people realize. One out of every child diagnosed does not survive, and it’s actually the largest cause of infant mortality in the United States. We thought that, since September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, there was no better time to take up a cause like Alex’s.”  Their arrangement included an informative board, with the statistics of childhood cancer and more information about Alex and his plight. She maintains that this isn’t the only cause her organization has strived to assist.

“The CSWO always tries to pick fundraisers that raise awareness of local and worldwide issues,” Radcliffe informs. The CSWO meets every Tuesday at 2:30, and Wednesday at 3:30 at Subway Sides. “At these meetings we discuss what we have planned, and what else we can tackle. We plan on raising awareness for homelessness next, if possible,” she adds.

The rest of the organization feels just as strongly about local issues, childhood cancer especially. “It’s terribly sad, what Alex and his family have to go through. We found out about Alex through one of our members actually,” says Mahala McDerment, another member of the organization. “It’s calamities like childhood cancer that manage to affect everyone.”

She feels that is the reason that the Concord Social Work Organization is such an important part of the community is that, “We try to find fundraisers people will be interested in. the 50/50 raffle has always worked especially well, since whoever’s ticket gets chosen receives half the money we raise.” 

Their organization tries to remain as active and poignant as possible, she says. “We host events like this as often as we can, and as a group we pick from the causes that are proposed to us. Our causes can be anything from domestic violence to breast cancer. Sometimes a member of the organization feels strongly about a topic, and we are always happy to offer our wholehearted support.”

The organization has a busy semester ahead, as the CSWO strives to host Halloween parties for children who may not have the opportunity otherwise. “We try to have a trick-or-treat set up, fun games for them to play, the whole nine yards. We want these kids to have a great Halloween, where they might not get the experience at home,” says McDerment.

The CWSO accepts all students as members, regardless of their major and are always happy to have more members. Alex and his family also have an individual fundraiser set up at www.gofundme.com/qggdh4s. Any goodwill is welcome this September from the Concord community.