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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