Members of the Student Council raised money and awareness with color-coded
ribbons and bow ties during Cancer Awareness Week.

With all of the bow ties around students' necks last week, one might think that modern student fashion had abruptly changed. Instead, the colorful neck ties were a show of support for Cancer Awareness Week, in which students and faculty helped fundraise and increase awareness for a truly good cause.

Cancer Awareness Week at Xavier included a bake sale, a dress down day and a table set-up in the cafeteria selling bow ties in a wide array of colors, corresponding with the colored ribbons that signify the many types of cancers that plague people each year. Xavier students raised just over $4,500 during the week for the American Cancer Society. The ACS funds research, helps cancer victims and their families find support networks, provides information on the many cancers out there and facilitates volunteer and support opportunities for those who want to fight against this worldwide problem.

To help engage students to raise money, Mr. Mike Chiafulio offered a special prize for the school community if they raised over $4,000 - he would shave his head bald. "I've had quite a few close friends and family members who have suffered with cancer." said Mr. Chiafulio. "Xavier also has a history of faculty members shaving their heads for good causes. It seemed like an appropriate pairing." The community surpassed that mark by hundreds, and the science and technology teacher has been hairless since.

While Xavier's fundraising efforts were a success, Ms. Alicia Psillos, who spearheaded the week at Xavier, said that the efforts were much more important than a dollar amount. "The main purpose was to bring more awareness to our school community about this horrible disease and how it has affected so many of our lives and/or our loved ones," she said. "We were able to educate our community by making daily announcements about cancer facts in the morning, we played a PowerPoint on the statistics and data of all different types of cancer on the hallway TV and had homeroom discussions on what can cause cancer, how or if you can prevent it and what we need to start doing in order to be proactive when it comes to getting checked."