Millions of lives worldwide are affected by the horrors of breast cancer. In the face of this devastating reality, a team of inspiring Lambert freshmen have made it their goal to raise breast cancer awareness in their local community. Participating in HOSA’s Community Awareness Event, Rishik Devana, along with his teammates Ritik Devana, Alekhya Doddapaneni, and Surabhi Fadnavis, have taken major strides in promoting their cause.
With the intention of educating the community on breast cancer, Devana and his team have conducted extensive research on general information, risk factors, treatments, screenings, etc.
The team’s journey began at Lakeside Middle School where they discovered their shared aptitude for medicine. The team was able to successfully establish and lead the first HOSA chapter at their school.
“Being a part of the leadership team meant that we were able to inspire and influence younger students to discover their passion for healthcare,” Devana stated. “We all applied out-of-district to be a part of the medical pathway here at Lambert to further pursue our healthcare careers.”
Recognizing the urgency and severity of the disease, the group began to take small initiatives towards their cause. They were able to raise countless funds for medical research.
“We have partnered with Emory Healthcare to create a fundraiser with a target of raising $2500,” Devana explained. “All the gathered donations will go towards advancements in breast cancer research.”
The team has hosted seminars about their initiative at Lakeside Middle School with the goal of educating their peers and encouraging them to support their journey.
On January 27th, 2024, Rishik and his team were able to conduct an interview with Dr. Noreen Khan, an oncologist who specializes in breast cancer (The interview can be found on their YouTube channel). The team is gearing up for their next grand event on February 20th, where they will be attending the Cumming City Council meeting. Their initiative is to declare an annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day in many Georgia cities.
When initially starting the campaign, the team did not expect to create such a valuable impression on their local community. As time went on, the group came to realize the great impact that their cause had on the local community. Seeing the success of their campaign has been a motivator for Devana and his team to create a larger-scale organization for Lambert students to become involved in.
“At first it might seem impossible to make a visible impact through a club or organization,” Devana said. “It is important to start off with little steps, set a clear goal, develop an idea, and consistently invest effort. There will definitely be a gradual progression. Remember, impactful change takes time, and each small stride you take contributes to the cause.”
