Turquoise Takes Over Schreiber For Cancer Awareness

Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington was filled with a sea of turquoise as students and faculty donned the color for a day in the spirit of the American Lung Association’s Turquoise Takeover awareness campaign. Schreiber is only the second Long Island school to participate in the event, which was co-sponsored by the Phoebe Lynn Lewis Foundation.

During the day, students listened to testimony from a cancer survivor and professionals from ALA and representatives from Winthrop University Hospital’s oncology department who discussed the disadvantages of smoking and engaging in modalities such as vaping. Dr. Jeffrey Schneider, who heads Winthrop’s oncology department, and Michelle Lewis Salzman, director of the Phoebe Lynn Lewis Foundation, encouraged students to reach out to loved ones who formerly smoked to prompt them to get screened.

Schreiber SADD and Key Club students assisted ALA representatives in sharing information on the ALA LUNG FORCE Walk on May 20 in New York City. The school also conducted an essay contest, encouraging participants to examine the rise in vaping and other smoking alternatives among teens.

“It was extremely gratifying to help plan this day with the Key Club, SADD and the health teachers in memory of my grandmother, who lost her fight against lung cancer” said Schreiber freshman Adam Salzman, the grandson of Phoebe Lynn Lewis, who died due to cancer. “The day helped educate teenagers about the harmful effects of smoking and vaping, and raised awareness about lung cancer screening – a low dose CT scan that can save one’s life – that very few patients or doctors know about.”

“This is valuable information for our students to process and share with one another and family members” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Mooney. “It can save their lives and the lives of those close to them. Hearing testimony from the experts, and people who have had their lives impacted by cancer, can go a long way in getting the message across.”

Turquoise Takeover is a weeklong campaign of LUNG FORCE, the ALA’s nationwide effort to raise awareness about lung health and lung cancer. Participants are asked to wear turquoise (the official color of ALA’s LUNG FORCE movement) and post turquoise pictures to social media and tag #turquoisetakeover #LUNGFORCE.

For more information about the Phoebe Lynn Lewis Foundation and steps toward screening and early detection, visit https://screenforlungcancernow.com/

Photo Caption: Pictured from left are Faith Aarons, Phoebe Lynn Lewis Foundation; Alisa Braithwaite, Winthrop Oncology program; Michelle Lewis Salzman, Phoebe Lynn Lewis Foundation; Adam Salzman, Schreiber freshman and grandson of Phoebe Lynn Lewis; Laura Kodack, ALA; Sarah Lutz, ALA; and Marjorie Buttgereit, cancer survivor during Schreiber High School’s “Turquoise Takeover” Day for lung cancer awareness.

Photo courtesy of the Port Washington School District