Junior Board
The Junior Board is open to high school students who have a heart to serve and an interest to learn about colon health and colorectal cancer prevention. Send an email to [email protected] for more information about membership. Membership is open to students all year.
The Junior Board’s 2024/2025 school year began September 8, 2024. Students can join anytime.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has revealed there will be a 90% increase in colorectal cancer incidence by 2030 in the 20-39 age group. Current high school age children are at risk. This generation of young people are 2x more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 4x more likely to be diagnosed with rectal cancer. To prevent this disease in young people awareness needs to be raised, education must be given, and proactive lifestyle behaviors must be implemented. High school students are also equipped to reach their peers and their parents in unique ways which can contribute to an increase in screening rates and a decrease in colorectal cancer incidence.
Check out the Junior Board’s public service announcement, “Why I Care.”
Throughout the school year, HCB2’s Junior Board members create educational content, plan informational activities, and volunteer at events to reach their peers, school faculty and their loved ones. HCB2 meets monthly with the high school Junior Board members and the members work throughout the month on various projects. If you are interested in applying the application can be found HERE. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Annual Junior Board projects include:
1. Instagram Takeover – Junior Board members are assigned a day during March where they have control over the gut health and colorectal cancer education posted on the @hittingcancerbelowthebelt Instagram and Facebook account. They create videos, post interviews, and share images to help raise the level of understanding about colon health and cancer prevention.
2. Boxer Brief 5K – The members help create 5K signage for the course, market and recruit peers for the High School 5K Challenge sub-event, and volunteer during the event.
3. HCB2 Club on High School Campus – The Junior members help establish curriculum and activities for the HCB2 clubs within the high schools. During each Junior Board meeting the leaders of the clubs share the work their school is doing to bring colon health and cancer prevention education into their school setting.
4. Whack Cancer in the Gut pickleball tournament. The Junior Board raises awareness and brings colon health and colorectal cancer education to their peers, teachers, families, and pickleball players during an entertaining Sunday afternoon. The funds raised help support their projects and work in the community.
Meet the founding Junior Board members
New members not in photos include: Colin, Emma, Matthew, Ryker, Shivan, and Riordan!
The Junior Board started in 2021. Great photo of our founders!
Students benefit from:
- Obtaining community service hours,
- Standing out on college applications,
- Giving back to community, and
- Becoming educated about cancer prevention through the improvement of colon health.
The Junior Board meets on a monthly basis during the school year. Contact us to learn more!