THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT PLANET ICE

By: Alyson Kelly

It has always been an aim of the Johnstown High School Key Club, being a community service organization, to lend a hand to people in our community by either participating in fundraisers or helping to deliver encouraging messages to people that could use a little pick-me-up. It then should come as no surprise that the Key Club offered to aid in the execution of the final round of short track speed skating for the Special Olympics in Cambria County being held at Planet Ice in Johnstown on February 23. The mission of the Special Olympics is to empower individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities by providing them with an opportunity to become fit and to engage in competition with their peers. In addition to the events that took place at Planet Ice on February 23, other competitions such as skiing took place at Blue Knob Ski Resort and Hidden Valley Ski Resort, while the figure skating contests were held at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

The Key Club volunteers helped in the efforts at Planet Ice by assisting the skaters in prepping for their races, aiding in the bleacher seating, escorting those competing from the locker room to the ice, and interacting with skaters who were waiting for their race to begin. According to the volunteers, most of the skaters that participated seemed to be affected by Down Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that involves a variety of birth defects ranging from characteristic facial features, intellectual disability, heart problems, and other overall health issues. Those afflicted with the disease are more likely to develop heart and intestinal defects, hearing and memory loss, infections, thyroid problems, and leukemia; it is one of the most common genetic birth defects, affecting 1 in 800 babies a year in the United States. In addition to skaters with Down Syndrome, others had disabilities such as blindness.

The first thirty or forty Key Club members that signed up to assist with the Special Olympics were permitted to attend, and one such member was Deanna Sanders, a sophomore at Johnstown High School who is her class representative for the service organization. When asked to give her opinion on helping with the Special Olympics, she indicated that she felt very inspired by the determination of those with disabilities, saying, "For me, helping out people afflicted with mental and physical disabilities was a great learning experience. The competitors were outgoing and fun to be around; they proved to be extremely talented and caring as well. By helping with this event, I felt that I was doing a service for those less fortunate than me." Sanders expressed an opinion that is likely held by all those who were involved, and the Key Club is thankful for the opportunity to be able to assist with the Special Olympics.

"PINK THE DOC" AT JHS

By: Alyson Kelly

Breast cancer awareness has become a lofty goal of more and more institutions across the nation as the epidemic heightens throughout the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 186,467 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in the year 2005 alone. Far from merely being a national statistic to be recorded for posterity, this tragically high number of cases indicates that breast cancer can and does affect everyone. Increasing the awareness of breast cancer has proven to be the key to raising money for a cure for the disease, helping women around the world to recognize their symptoms, and to treat the cancer in its earliest stages. In addition to business corporations, medical research foundations, and the typical charity organizations, establishments of education have proven not to be immune to the giving spirit that entails helping those afflicted with the disease, and Johnstown High School has not been excluded from this admirable movement.

Taking the cue from the charitable attitude displayed by the volleyball team earlier in the school year, the JHS girl's basketball team, along with the opposing rival team Bishop McCort, decided to raise money to increase breast cancer awareness during a game earlier in the month. The Lady Trojans gathered donations for the breast cancer awareness fund from teachers, parents, and neighbors in the weeks leading up to the big game against McCort; around $600 was collected between the two schools. The JHS gym was decked out in pink paraphernalia, the color of breast cancer awareness, for the game, and the JHS girls sported pink warm-up shirts as well. Although the Lady Trojans gave a valiant effort during the game, their efforts came up short against McCort, losing 53-41.

Freshman member of the JHS girl's basketball team, Hannah Chilcot, raised about $50 of the total $600 for the breast cancer awareness fund by collecting donations from various teachers. Involved in the school's Key Club and also a member of the volleyball team, Hannah thoroughly feels that the money is going to a good cause, saying, "I felt really good about the whole thing, raising money for this disease that affects so many families in, but not limited to, Johnstown High School. It was a pleasure to be able to help in this way."