Bayless Junior High Students Honored For Anti-Smoking Message

17 Tuesday Feb 2009

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anti-smoking, artwork, chris chamberlain, contest, d'marco farr, essays, great american smokeout, smoke-free, st. louis rams

With a message of “Smoking Kills,” students at Bayless Junior High in south St. Louis were recognized by the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine for their creative anti-smoking messages.

Students at the school were asked to design artwork and write an essay encouraging young people to be smoke-free as part of an annual art and essay contest for November’s “Great American Smokeout.” Seventh grader Cathy Vo and eighth grader Sabina Dizdar were first place winners of the Siteman-sponsored art contest “Keep Kids Tobacco Free.” The winning artwork was printed on t-shirts given to the school’s student body.

Eighth grader Donna Dinh was recognized at an assembly for her essay on “Why You Shouldn’t Smoke.” The essay was about her father who smokes and her plea for him to quit. “Hopefully this essay would help you to stay away from smoking or put an end to it,” she wrote.

St. Louis Rams linebacker Chris Chamberlain attended the assembly and signed autographs. He spoke about a former teammate at the University of Tulsa, who was among the most talented players he’d seen, but did not make the NFL due to his smoking habit. “It shows how destructive smoking can be,” said Chamberlain.

Sporting the winning t-shirt design, “Bayless Bronchos Don’t Need to 2 Smoke: We’re Already on Fire!” select students from Bayless Junior High attended the “Siteman Smokeout for Life” on Thursday, November 20 at Siteman Cancer Center.

Students received lunch and a tour of Siteman. The day included a health fair and an anti-tobacco presentation from Don Young of Young Choices, Inc., a local non-profit organization that advocates about the dangers of smoking. D’Marco Farr, former St. Louis Rams defensive tackle, met with students. Mr. Farr signed autographs and encouraged students to stay smoke-free.

“It’s exciting to know area children are knowledgeable about the dangers of cigarette smoking and interested in helping others ‘kick the habit,’” says Timothy Eberlein, MD, Siteman Cancer Center director.

* Source: STL Connection newsletter, Volume IV Issue I 2009, Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities.

Cancer Survivor Shares Story

21 Wednesday Nov 2007

Posted by Bald Brian in Press, Videos

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american cancer society, cancer, don young, esophagus, great american smokeout, hayden high school, kansas, neck, presentation, second chance, students, surgery

Written by Meagan Farley

“It was really gross and the pictures were just really gross,” said Hayden High School Junior Lauren Frost. She sat among her classmates Monday as Don Young shared his story.

“I didn’t have that type of education in school. They need to be told the effects of what tobacco does and that not everyone is going to get cancer but some people will,” said Young, who started smoking at fourteen years old.

Tobacco has taken its toll. Doctors removed his cancer riddled voice box, leaving him speechless. Then he underwent a 19 hour surgery to remove part of his neck and entire esophagus.

“When my throat blew out they said they lost me on the table so I’ve been given a second chance.”

Young used that second chance Monday to educate Hayden High School students.

The American Cancer Society estimates nine out of ten current smokers started using tobacco when they were teens.

Currently in Kansas, 21 percent of teens report smoking cigarettes.

“I don’t want to do that now especially seeing all that stuff on the projector,” said Junior Rick Rineburg.

“I think a lot of people are going to be talking about how gross this was when we go back to class,” said Frost.

“I know I’m not going to stop everyone from smoking or drinking or doing any other drugs but I think some of them will take this to heart and not do it because they see me and the reality of it and I believe that or I wouldn’t be doing this,” said Young.