Cancer education group to host wreath ceremony, awareness event

STEUBENVILLE -- A local women's cancer education group will be expanding its annual wreath ceremony, remembering those touched by cancer, by adding a community health exposition.

The Women in Action Against Cancer Coalition of Jefferson County will host its Breast Cancer Awareness and Community Expo at Fort Steuben Mall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 18. Janet Sharpe, coalition co-chair, said the group has held a wreath ceremony commemorating October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month since 1999, and members decided this year to expand the effort.

Leslie Aftanas, coalition co-chair, said, "The reason for the wreath ceremony is because so many of us have lost people with breast cancer. ... We like honoring the people who have survived, and there are sometimes ... people who are there in memory, so we want to recognize those people.

"I feel that we need to get the word out to these younger kids the importance of getting breast exams, mammograms and Pap smears every year because some of them don't know the consequences if you don't.

Sharpe said of the wreath ceremony, "It's one of our signature events and the one we all love the best. One year, we lost two of our (coalition) members to breast cancer, so that year especially it had a lot of meaning for us.

"A lot of the members have had breast cancer. Even during COVID we did it. It's a very touching ceremony. ... We've got women that are two times, three times survivors."

Sharpe and Aftanas themselves are not breast cancer survivors, but they both agree that most people know someone in their life who has been touched by the disease.

The exposition, which will begin at 10 a.m. and last until about 3:30 p.m. will be free for the public, although the coalition invites donations. Aftanas said all individuals are welcome, including survivors or those who have lost a loved one to cancer.

The standout attraction will be a 10-foot-high, 12-foot-wide and 20-foot-long inflatable colon provided by the Ohio State University. Attendees can walk through the colon, which will have guided signs detailing different diseases and afflictions of the colon, including polyps, cancer and colitis, Sharpe said. The tour will be led by senior anatomy students from Toronto High School.

Additionally, the exposition will host tables for other organizations specifically aimed at women. Sharpe said organizations will include the coalition, Urban Mission Ministry, Trinity Medical Center East: Images Mammography Center, Capital Health Home Care, ALIVE Inc., the Ohio State University Extension Jefferson County office, Valley Hospice and Our Place senior center.

In addition to collecting diapers for its community diaper bank, the Jefferson County General Health District also will be distributing flu vaccines. Student nurses from Eastern Gateway Community College will perform blood pressure checks.

Following the exposition, the wreath ceremony will take place at 4 p.m., beginning with Tom Graham singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Graham, who Sharpe said has been singing for the coalition for over 20 years, will sing another song later in the program.

Next, a member of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will present a proclamation, and a representative of the city will present a resolution.

Afterward, cancer survivor Sandy Rue will present a message. Sharpe said each year's speaker provides his or her own unique perspective, making attendees feel a broad range of emotion. Rue's fun personality, Sharpe said, "will be a hoot."

To conclude the ceremony, coalition members will give gifts to attending survivors and honor individuals killed by cancer.

The wreath ceremony has been a time-weathered tradition for the coalition, having switched locations various times over the years. Sharpe credited the exposition expansion to coalition co-chair Leslie Aftanas, saying that the idea ultimately was to keep things free for the community.

The coalition itself is dedicated to educating its designated region's community members about cancer, Sharpe said. It accomplishes this with help from donations and grant-writing assistance from the Ohio State University.

Formerly focusing on education and public speaking opportunities, the coalition now assists with fundraising, Sharpe said. Using 50-50 funds, the coalition donates to pay for Trinity Health System's prostate screenings for Minority Health Month. Also, money donated through the Ohio Valley Mopar Club's car show goes to the Ohio Valley Health Center for screenings.

"We are the payer of last resort," Sharpe said. "If (individuals) don't have insurance and they meet the criteria, they go under the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer (Project). If they don't qualify for that, then we pick it up and pay for their services."

The exposition will serve as a membership advertisement for the currently 18-member coalition, Sharpe said, adding that the "close-knit" group was founded in 1997 but has seen declining membership since the coronavirus pandemic.

Aftanas said the coalition would like to see new members, as young as college-aged, getting involved. The coalition meets every first Tuesday of each month at noon, and members are not required to pay dues.