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Learning Journal

This semester, I had two opportunities to volunteer in the community through my

employer Trident Medical Center. The first event I volunteered for was the annual Lung Force
Run/Walk for the local American Lung Association in Charleston, South Carolina. The 5K race
took place on Folly Beach, SC on October 21st, 2023. Before the event, I helped recruit and sign-
up employees to race for team Trident. I also arrived early before the race to help pass out t-shirts
that were bought to help raise money for the race. During the event, I interacted with new lung
cancer survivors and some survivors whom I knew from my work as a radiation therapist at
Trident Cancer Center. This event reminded me of the importance of the work I do as a radiation
therapist and now as a medical dosimetrist. I also became aware as to how many of my co-
workers were affected by the loss of a loved one that was diagnosed with lung cancer. The lung
cancer run/walk event raised over $118,000 by those that volunteered and local sponsors. The
original goal was $100,000, making this event a great success for the community. 1

The second volunteer event I participated in was a breast cancer survivor fashion show on
October 29th, 2023, in Summerville, SC. The goal of this event was to support breast cancer
survivors while making them feel beautiful and appreciated. The breast cancer survivors modeled
fashion gowns donated from local businesses from the Charleston area. Prior to this event, I
helped find and sign-up employees to volunteer to escort the models during the fashion show.
For this event, my family and I arrived early to help set up the event space by setting up tables,
chairs, and the runway. We also helped organize, decorate the event space, and set up
refreshments provided by the caterer. Many people that attended the event were there to support
their loved one’s modeling in the fashion show. While this event kept my family and I very
active the entire time, this event made me realize how impacted a breast cancer survivor’s
support system can be by the diagnosis of their loved ones. Many of those that attended the event
spoke about how they felt protected during their treatment by the employees at Trident Cancer
Center. This reminded me of the importance of displaying and maintaining ethical standards for
patients, which was discussed in the Professional Issues in Medical Dosimetry class this fall
semester. Overall, I was very proud of how the event space came together for the event, and it
was also nice to meet new people from the hospital that volunteered to help setup for this event.
My favorite moment of the event is when a breast cancer survivor was proposed to by her
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boyfriend while her entire family sat in the crowd. This moment made all those that volunteered
for the event extremely excited and all the hard work to setup up the event worthwhile.
Witnessing the emotions during both events encourages me to always volunteer and grow as an
individual by participating in local community events.
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References

1. Charleston, SC Lung Force Run/Walk-Charleston. Accessed 12/08/23.

https://action.lung.org/site/TR?fr_id=24653&pg=entry

Team Trident Members and I at the Lung Run/Walk

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Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show Flyer

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Proposal at the Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show

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Engaged couple at the Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show

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Family at the Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show