Programs

BONE MARROW DRIVE

Many adults and children with leukemia, lymphomas, and other blood diseases need bone marrow or blood cell transplants in order to recover. To give these patients a chance, their bone marrow is matched against that belonging to people who have volunteered to join The National Bone Marrow Program's registry. Every individual has a 1 in 20,000 chance of matching a stranger; hence, when you sign up for the registry you may be giving someone a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The Harvard Cancer Society organizes, fundraises, and runs drives in order to recruit individuals to register and support this worthwhile cause. Though 6 million people have already committed to help across the nation, many more are still needed.

For more information, contact directors Brandon Ross (bpross@fas.harvard.edu) and Kevin Chi (kwchi@fas.harvard.edu)

CANCER PREVENTION AND ADVOCACY BY CAMBRIDGE TEENS

C-PACT is a groundbreaking program initiated in 2005 by the Harvard Cancer Society to increase teenage involvement in cancer awareness and advocacy. Partnering with a local Cambridge school, C-PACT volunteers volunteer twice a week to educate students about cancer and give them the skills and motivation to become active fundraisers and advocates. Using a creative approach to learning, C-PACT combines artwork, research, speakers, and fundraisers to help students develop real life skills of communication, organization, and business professionalism.

For more information, contact President Rachel Berkey (berkey@fas.harvard.edu)

CHILTON CANCER HOSPICE

Chilton is a small, welcoming hospice that acts as a final home for up to five patients terminally ill with cancer. Volunteers help the nurses at Chilton with laundry and simple chores, but more crucially, provide mental support and somebody to talk to for the patients. Hospice work is an extremely rewarding experience in which volunteers are given the opportunity to really make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

For more information, contact director Sonam Sharma (ssharma@fas.harvard.edu)

HOOPS AGAINST CANCER

Fun + fitness, Hoops Against Cancer is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, plus free throw competition, held each spring to raise money for cancer research. HCS recruits volunteers to help with logistics, publicity, and fundraising for the tournament.

For more information, contact directors Niraj Nathan (nnathan@fas.harvard.edu) and Bill Werbel (wwerbel@fas.harvard.edu)

MGH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

The Massachusetts General Hospital Volunteer Program provides volunteers with the chance to interact with patients of all ages and from all units. Volunteers help out on the inpatient floors, talk to patients, play with the pediatric patients, or help patient families. This year, the MGHVP will be expanding, and we are looking for eager students who are interested in becoming a part of this exceptional program.

For more information, contact directors Sherri Geng (geng@fas.harvard.edu) and Sheena Marquis (smarquis@fas.harvard.edu)

PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PROGRAM

The Pediatric Oncology Program (POP) is a volunteer program on the bone marrow transplant unit of Children's Hospital Boston. For two to three hours each week, volunteers care for, play with, and support the children at the hospital, many of whom are battling cancer. Each POP volunteer is assigned a time slot during which they volunteer every week throughout the semester. (A free shuttle transports volunteers to and from the hospital in approximately thirty minutes.) POP is a truly rewarding experience, particularly for those who enjoy working with children. The program also provides a great opportunity for volunteers to become familiar with the hospital setting.

For more information, contact directors Brandon Ross (bpross@fas.harvard.edu) and Anupriya Singhal (asinghal@fas.harvard.edu)

RELAY FOR LIFE

Relay for Life is an annual overnight walkathon that raises money for the American Cancer Society's programs in cancer research, awareness, and advocacy. The Harvard Cancer Society works in conjunction with the American Cancer Society and Boston area universities, as well as with cancer survivors and their families. Relay is a powerful way to help fight cancer and to honor friends and family who have lost their lives to cancer.

For more information, contact directors Christopher Beavers (cbeavers@fas.harvard.edu) and Gianna De Caro (gdecaro@fas.harvard.edu)