Tasked with creating community engagement with a women’s component, four Vancouver Island University students took their women’s studies class assignment seriously and used the opportunity to share knowledge about breast cancer and benefit a good cause.
As a result, Lisa Vu, Julianna Mitchell, Kate Cadden and Leah Whitworth presented almost $1,425 to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation toward the cancer clinic at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
The students negotiated a cookie donation with Thrifty Foods and then went about pre-selling dozens of cookies to family and friends, in person and over the Internet.
They also operated a Cookie Kiosk in Thrifty Foods at Brooks Landing in March and sold singles for $2 or a dozen for $20 throughout the day.
Their efforts came full circle when they heard stories from one woman who was a 25-year survivor of cancer and another who had just finished her 10th round of chemotherapy.
“These young ladies did a fantastic job engaging the public and providing a forum to discuss a serious issue, but also making a tangible difference at the same time,” said Brenda Rositano, of the hospital foundation. “It is the hospital and the patients who will benefit most from their incredible hard work and generosity.”
To learn more about the foundation, please visit www.nanaimohospitalfoundation.com.
