North Lamar High School HOSA students recently presented a $2,858 donation to the Paris Lamar County Health District (PLCHD) to support colon cancer screening for uninsured and underinsured residents in the community.
The funds were raised through a Colon Cancer Awareness Pickleball Tournament, organized by North Lamar HOSA students in partnership with Paris Regional Health. Throughout the project, students were mentored by internal medicine residents, who educated them on the importance of early detection and prevention—especially in Lamar County, where only 6% of residents currently receive colon cancer screenings.
The tournament was made possible by the generosity of In A Pickle Sporting Events, who donated the entire event at no cost as a service to the community, allowing all proceeds to remain local.
Pictured at the check presentation are Dr. Saji Pillai, Internal Medicine Residency Program Director at Paris Regional Health; Dr. Connor Rodriguez, Internal Medicine Resident; Emily Neely, Patient Navigator with the Paris Lamar County Health District; Mark Ruiz, owner of In A Pickle Sporting Events; North Lamar HOSA officers; and Kendra Waldroup, RN, North Lamar Health Science Instructor and HOSA Advisor.
The donation will be used by PLCHD to assist individuals in Lamar County who lack adequate insurance coverage in obtaining life-saving colon cancer screenings.
In the check writing photo: Student, Madilyn Soliz, writes the check amount while fellow classmate, Kyler Waldroup, and Mark Ruiz, owner of In A Pickle Sporting Events observe.
Group picture from left to Right: Connor Rodriguez, MD; Kyler Waldroup; Saji Pillai, MD; Caillee Walston; Emily Neeley; Alexis Daniels; Londyn Odom; Korbyn Liggins; Aubrey Erwin; Avree Bennett; Madilyn Soliz; Blake Boyden; Jackson Church; Sofia Paissan; Ryan Trenchard; Kendra Waldroup; Mark Ruiz.
