STMA Alumni Raising Funds for Cancer Awareness Trees

Teresa Edelman, a former STMA High School student and current senior at Northern State University, is raising money for the completion of a Cancer Awareness Tree on the campus green of NSU.  

The Cancer Awareness Tree will be a place where students and community members can come to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have lost the battle with cancer, and those who are still fighting and winning.

Those who wish to visit the tree can tie a ribbon around the branches in honor of those who have fought or are still fighting cancer. These ribbons will be located in a box next to the tree. 

The Cancer Awareness Tree holds special meaning for Edelman. In 2010, Edelman lost her 6-year-old cousin, Danny, to high-risk acute myeloid leukemia. He battled the cancer for almost a year by receiving a bone marrow transplant and different therapies, but Danny died on June 30, 2010. Ever since, it has been Edelman’s goal to raise awareness of cancer.

“I really want this tree to raise awareness and show how prevalent cancer really is,” Edelman said. “It affects so many.”  

Edelman has the help and support of the NSU Honors Program, as well as Dr. Erin Fouberg, the NSU Honors Program advisor. This project also comprises the first part of her thesis for the Honors Program. A web quest (an online tool for learning) informing people about childhood cancer and how to cope with it in school and at home will make up the second part.  

In order for the Cancer Awareness Tree to become a reality, Edelman needs to raise more than $2,000 to erect a plaque explaining the tree, provide ribbons for visitors to tie to the tree and install pavers in the shape of a cancer ribbon around the tree. The money raised will also go to the continual upkeep of the tree by the Honors Program and NSU grounds crew. 

Community members, businesses and organizations interested in contributing to the NSU Cancer Awareness Tree can send checks in any dollar amount to the NSU Cancer Awareness Tree, NSU Foundation, 620 15th Ave. S.E., Aberdeen, SD  57401. All funds raised will go to the current installation and future maintenance of the NSU Cancer Awareness Tree.

(Information provided by NSU)