Walking to Stamp Out Oral Cancer
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Second Annual Oral Cancer Walk Raises Over $30,000 On April 14, 2007, the Second Annual New York City Oral Cancer Walk, organized by the NYUCD chapter of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), drew some 500 participants, up from just shy of 300 walkers in 2006. The 2007 walk also increased its fund–raising success, bringing in over $30,000 to help combat a disease that kills over 7,000 American men and women each year. The four–mile walk began and finished in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, to underscore the fact that oral cancer disproportionately affects African–American men, who have the highest rates of oral cancer in the United States. Free oral cancer screenings were available, and this year additional health screenings and services (blood pressure, blood sugar, smoking cessation) were provided by NYU College of Nursing faculty and students. Also on hand were a gospel choir and a rock band. In addition to the SNDA, organizational sponsors included The Oral Cancer Foundation, NYU College of Dentistry, the Oral Cancer Consortium of New York and New Jersey, ABC 7, and the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation. An array of corporate sponsors, recognized with their logos on the walk’s official T–shirt, also participated. Dr. Jocelyn Jeffries, ’07, the lead organizer, said, “It’s phenomenal to realize how a team of students, staff, faculty, and administrators can come together and find time in the midst of tremendously busy schedules to organize something that really makes a huge impact on the community. I feel confident that this will soon become a national event led by dental schools all across the U.S.” In addition to Dr. Jeffries, the 2007 Oral Cancer Walk Committee consisted of Dr. Marcus Young, Class of 2007; Marcus Johnson, Class of 2008; Dmitry Baron, Class of 2009; Alexander Baron, Class of 2009; Stacy Wolf, Class of 2009; Dr. Alicia Andreula, Class of 2007; Dr. Elizabeth Powell, Class of 2007; Dr. Tameko Tomkins, Class of 2007; Mary Reichman, Dental Hygiene Program Class of 2008; and Marvin Baptiste, Class of 2008, Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery. The committee would like to express special thanks to Dr. Ross Kerr, Associate Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Radiology & Medicine, who went above and beyond the call of duty as their faculty mentor; Mr. Brian Hill, Founder and Executive Director of The Oral Cancer Foundation; ZIPS fraternity; ASDA; Mr. Steve Bolan, Director of Student Affairs; Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations Rita Startup; Mrs. Constance Turner, Administrator of the Smiling Faces, Going Places mobile dental care program; Assistant Dean for Communications and Public Affairs Elyse Bloom; and Ms. Cynthia Busbee of Sonnenberg, Haviland & Partners. |
