Don't give up in fight against cancer

On Saturday, hours before the Duke Men's Basketball defeated Maryland, Sandra Kay Yow, longtime coach of the North Carolina State women's basketball team, succumbed to a her fight with breast cancer. My last memory of her was watching her orchestrate a win over the Duke women's team in the 2007 ACC tournament, Duke's first loss of that year. She was a fantastic women's basketball coach, as well as an inspirational human being, simultaneously working as an educator at N.C. State while battling cancer.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of all deaths in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. We have all undoubtedly known someone who has fought a battle against cancer. Sadly, last week I learned that my father may soon be facing a vicious battle against cancer. I, like many of you, wonder, what can I do?

Fighting cancer requires collective action on the part of all individuals. Whatever you can do, whether it be donate to research or simply adjust your own lifestyle, do it. I refuse to let us fail. And I urge you all to join me. See your doctor, encourage your parents to see theirs, change your lifestyle, get involved-do what you can.

To all you researchers, Godspeed. For the rest of us, let's remember the words Jim Valvano said two months before he left us: "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

Vivek Upadhyay

Trinity '10

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