W&J news Cross-country runner crusades to raise awareness of ovarian cancer A Washington & Jefferson College honors student, Magellan scholar, athlete—and cancer survivor—Haley Roberts ’14 is on a mission to raise awareness of ovarian cancers and help others fight the disease she overcame. At 16 years old, Roberts was diagnosed with granulosa cell tumor (GCT), a rare form of ovarian cancer primarily found in post-menopausal women. Two years later, with the support of the Magellan Project, the biology major was afforded the opportunity to travel to New Zealand, where she studied with the world’s leading researchers of the disease at the Granulosa Cell Tumour Research Foundation and University of Auckland.
“There is a reason this happened to me. I am young and enthusiastic to find out more.” – HALEY ROBERTS ’14
Inspired by the popular “For Dummies” reference books, Roberts turned her research into a paper titled, “The Genetics of GCT: An Unofficial Guide for the Scientifically Illiterate.” Since being posted to the foundation’s website, the paper has been downloaded thousands of times by individuals in dozens of countries. Haley Roberts, a survivor of ovarian cancer, helped turn a regional cross-country invitational into an awareness event for the disease.
“This information may help others make decisions on treatments and better conceptualize how and why their cancer is different from other ovarian cancers,” said Roberts, who also has met with survivors to talk with them about their experiences. “I was able to learn more about ovarian cancer from two different vantage points—the science side and the treatment and quality of life side, which are both important in developing a more complete understanding of the disease.” When Roberts returned to campus in the fall, the cross-country runner was determined to continue spreading awareness on her home turf. She approached Joyce Brobeck, head cross-country coach at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, with the idea of building an awareness event around the 9th Annual Bobcat Invitational in October. Brobeck, who lost her mother to ovarian cancer, took to the idea immediately, saying that it “elevated the meaning of the entire race.” Through their combined efforts, 400 runners from the region’s college and university cross-country teams sported teal ribbons to draw attention to the importance of awareness and early detection. “It was a great opportunity to get this message in front of hundreds of people who will then carry it back to their campuses so we can reach even more people,” Roberts said. “We were able to reach thousands with just one event.” Roberts, who also is a crusader for the “Turn the NFL Teal in September” campaign, will reach thousands more when she speaks at the GCT Survivors’ Conference this April. “There is a reason this happened to me,” she said. “I am young and enthusiastic to find out more.”
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WINTER 2012 MAGAZINE
MEET THE MASCOTS:
Bringing George and Tom back to life George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are turning heads at games, tailgates and special events across campus. Keep reading to learn more about W&J’s newest arrivals.
Extreme Makeover: Inspired by the Washington Nationals’ “Racing Presidents,” George and Tom first drew students’ attention during a surprise visit to campus last year. To become official W&J mascots, the presidents were required to undergo a major makeover, sporting more menacing expressions and fancier threads than the original models. Head First: Standing 4 feet tall and weighing in at 30 pounds each, George and Tom’s heads are composed of layers of foam and fabric. Their facial features come to life with airbrushing, markers and paint, and their eyes are plastic domes that are painted to look wet.
Under Construction: The mascots’ creator, Randy Carfagno, asks for six to eight weeks to make a character. “Every aspect must be thought out, sculpted, molded, drawn, draped, mocked up, refined, then built from real materials and finished to perfection,” he said. “Not a small task.”
Secret Service: The Presidents are played by a rotating group of 12 anonymous student volunteers. “Their identities need to remain confidential, as it is a matter of utmost national security,” said Steve Anderson, associate dean of student life at W&J.