FORT MADISON —The National Honor Society (NHS) at Holy Trinity Catholic High School completed its service projects for 2013-2014. During April, NHS students promoted awareness for two organizations — Hope Lodge in Iowa City and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Members present for the Holy Trinity High School National Honor Society picture were, front, from left, Maria Vonderhaar, Katherine Schierbrock, Rachel Ferguson, Jamie Sobczak, Angela Bentler, Lauren Pothitakis, Paige Hansen, Jena Vonderhaar, Alisha Saathoff, Sabrina Menke; back, Zach Taylor, Ben Votroubek, Nick Krone, Adam Stewart, Dylan Menke, Chris Schierbrock, Blake Hellweg, Mikaela Foecke, Luke Fullenkamp, Bryce Walljasper, Tyler Delaney, Cayla Pieper, Nicole Wilkens. Members not available were Meggie Meyer and Kristen Tinguely.
At the beginning of each weekly Mass in April, students were asked take a moment to remember those people in their lives who have been affected by cancer and to contribute to the Mass collection. They were reminded that more than 1 million people in the United States face cancer each year. This can be a very difficult time for everyone involved. Having to travel out of town for treatment can make it even harder. Yet the American Cancer Society has a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can find help and hope when home is far away — Hope Lodge.
Each Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city away from home. Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows guests to focus on getting well.
Hope Lodge provides a nurturing, home-like environment where guests can retreat to private rooms or connect with others. Every Hope Lodge also offers a variety of resources and information about cancer and how best to fight the disease.
Through the Mass collection and a matching contribution from NHS, $275 was sent to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Iowa City.
Along with helping cancer patients, NHS was busy selling Cystic Fibrosis Little People pin-ups to fellow students, faculty, family and friends.
By the end of the campaign to bring awareness to students about cystic fibrosis, a colorful display was created on the front windows of HTC and $650 was donated to the CF Foundation for research.
Throughout the month, students learned that cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Those individuals with CF inherit a defective gene that causes a buildup of thick mucus in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. When the mucus clogs the lungs; it becomes very difficult to breathe. The thick mucus also traps bacteria in the airways, which can result in infections and inflammation and often leads to severe lung damage and eventually respiratory failure.
The HTC National Honor Society has taken pride in raising money each year to help the CF Foundation stay on the forefront of medical research. Thanks to all of the individuals who supported the NHS members in their efforts.
