Relay for Life Uses Small Sticky Notes to Paint a Big (and Promising) Picture
October 27, 2022
Some are bright and eye-catching, while others are a subdued pastel-pink, however all of the sticky notes embellishing the halls of the U-Building contain positive, heartfelt messages that warm the souls of cancer patients and survivors alike.
In honor of October’s distinction as Breast Cancer Awareness month, Relay for Life set out to multiple homerooms on Monday, October 24th, tasking students to answer one of three prompts on a pink sticky note:
- Write the name(s) of the any person you may be honoring/remembering in the month of October
- Write why Cancer Awareness & Research is important
- Write encouraging messages for current patients or survivors
An accumulation of messages saying, “You got this!” or, “Stay strong, I believe in you!” or, “Cancer is tough, but so are you.”, as well as the names and anecdotes of loved ones who have succumbed to or are currently fighting the disease, are on display around a large pink banner that reads, “JAGUARS GO PINK”. Above this banner is the short, yet equally powerful word of “HOPE”, with each letter shaped by the supportive notes of students.
Even if no one takes the time to read each individual note, the thought and the idea that someone’s message is on [the] walls of our school—which embodies our education, our knowledge, every pillar that we stand for—I think that it will just show that, as a school, we care and we are ready to stand up against it.
— junior Amogh Baranwal, Relay for Life Captain
Some words from those who helped:
“We really want to do something to showcase the commitment [that] Pines Charter has [to] ending breast cancer, and funding for breast cancer research—we thought of the idea of quite literally showcasing it on our walls. Even if no one takes the time to read each individual note, the thought and the idea that someone’s message is on [the] walls of our school—which embodies our education, our knowledge, every pillar that we stand for—I think that it will just show that, as a school, we care and we are ready to stand up against it.” – junior Amogh Baranwal (Relay for Life Captain)
“A lot of people aren’t aware of cancer or how big of a thing it is, and this is literally putting it in [their] face. They’re walking past a bright pink wall, they’re going to recognize [it] and they’re going to take the time out of their day to look and be like, ‘oh wow’, they are going to take a second and stop and think about cancer and how real it is. We say, ‘spread awareness’ but a lot of the time, people don’t. – junior Anaya Andre (Relay for Life Jr. Captain)
“We are putting out a message to the entire school about what we are about as a club and promoting people to fundraise for cancer!” – junior Lauren Trybalski (Relay for Life Fundraising Lead)
“Putting the sticky notes is bringing awareness to a disease and is giving words of encouragement for those who have or [had] family who [are dealing or] dealt with it. Because of how common it is, it is good that Relay is putting it out there to show that even in our darkest time[s], we will always have support.” – junior Coralie Richardsom (Relay for Life member)
Take a trip to the north side of U-building to view the mural of sticky notes and to read the inspiring words of students that made the picture possible.
