Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2009, Page 134

Description:	HOOSIERS OUTRUN CANCEROver 300 Bloomington South students ran, walked, or volunteeredin the ninth annual fight against cancer.three lessFreshmanLauren PowellEvery day, we were advised on to protectourselves against cancer, and devotedourselves to fighting it, in ways like participating in Hoosiers Outrun Cancer. Theaddition of Gardasil to the arsenal againstcancer was a medical breakthrough thatproved controversial. Freshman LaurenPowell, after hesitation, received the vaccine. I didnt want to get it at first, I didntlike shots, but I figured it couldnt hurt,Powell said. Since then, she became awareof Gardasils potential and the most important aspect, protecting girls and womenagainst cervical cancer. I think its good.Preventing cancer is the main thing.For Powell the decision to use the vaccination was one that should be made togetherbetween parents and their daughters. Shesaid: They should be able to trust [their]daughter[s]. However, the reality was thatbecause Gardasil protected against a sexually transmitted disease, HPV, some parents were reluctant to give their daughtersthe medicine. Plus, some doctors warnedthe vaccine didnt protect against all strainsof the virus. -MARGARET MCGILLIVRAY134 I COMMUNITY I hoosiers outrun cancerGardasil was a vaccine given to protect against HPV,a virus which can lead to cervical cancer.Three girls discussed their thoughts about the vaccination.Junior SeniorAllison Weibel Katherine WaggonerThough cancer was a tragic disease, it wasnot uncommon, and virtually everyoneknew someone whose life had been tingedby it. Hoosiers Outrun Cancer celebratedthose who fought through the conditionand honored those who were so unfortunate not to. Junior Allison Weibel honoredher mother, a fatal cancer victim, everyyear at the event, about which she felt verystrongly. She was passionate about thefight against all types of cancer, and hersupport extended to Gardasil. Things likethat are great, but there are so many typesof cancer. Its a step in the right direction,though. Anyone who doesnt want to getit is an idiot. People that might not havewanted the series of three shots may havestruggled with the idea of getting (or givingto a daughter) a non-mandatory shot for anSTD. People shouldnt care, the first priority is that your kids are alive and healthy.Life is more important than if their kids arehaving sex. Her policy if she were to bedenied the medicine by a guardian: Imgetting it anyway.-MARGARET MCGILLIVRAYBefore her high school graduation, seniorKatherine Waggoner had already seen thedevastating trail cancer leaves in its wake:a family friends husband was diagnosedwith brain cancer and passed away, onlyfor the widows second husband to experience fatal brain cancer as well. Hermothers sister suffered cancer in her jawfor 12 years. Subsequendy, Waggonerhad been a faithful participant in HoosiersOutrun Cancer for all four years of highschool. She also supported cancer prevention, namely the potentially life-saving vaccine, Gardasil. However, her parents werehesitant to give their daughter the vaccination, as it was for a sexually transmitteddisease and not a mandatory vaccination.My mom wasnt supportive. [She said]its unnecessary, Waggoner said. Thosewith the same perspective as Waggonersparents may have seen it as defiance ofan abstinence only policy, and an excuseto be reckless. However, Waggoner hassince turned 18, and has decided to getthe vaccine. Its an opportunity to be safeand protected against cancer and disease.-MARGARET MCGILLIVRAY
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8156
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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