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CCA’s Oral Cancer road-waving a success
Commonwealth Cancer Association and Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Division of Public Health staff and two volunteers hold up a streamer promoting oral cancer awareness during CCA’s roadside-waving activity yesterday along Beach Road in Oleai. (Jayson Camacho)
Commonwealth Cancer Association, community members, and partners yesterday enjoyed promoting oral cancer awareness after receiving enthusiastic support from the community in the form of motorists honking their cars horns during a roadside-waving activity yesterday along Beach Road in Oleai.
The reception was enough for CCA program manager Juan L. Babauta to declare yesterday’s campaign a success.
Babauta said that it was the third time that a roadside waving was done in celebration of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, which all leads up to CCA’s signature fund-raising event, the Marianas March Against Cancer.
“The roadside waving is part of CCA and our partners’ efforts to help spread awareness of the effects of chewing tobacco and betel nut as it is the major cause of oral cancer,” he said.
Lt. Gov. Ralph Torres, who was present at the roadside waving with his family members, said that they were there to support Oral Cancer Awareness Month.
“I ask the community for their support and to be strong to stop oral cancer,” Torres said.
During the entire month of April, CCA will be hosting presentations and visiting schools to address the concerns and raise awareness on oral cancer. There will also be a forum on oral cancer that includes stakeholders and partners.
Mami Ikeda, a huge supporter for awareness on oral cancer, was present. She carried a picture of her brother Kazu, who passed away from the deadly disease, while waving at people.
Ikeda said that she reached out to all of Kazu’s friends on Facebook to pass by during the roadside waving and rev up their engines in support of oral cancer awareness month.
“This is good. The awareness is spreading and trying to help us so I feel that the awareness is really getting out there,” she said.
