Middlesboro campus hosts Yoplait Day, event generates funds for cancer research

The annual Yoplait Day, held in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was staged recently on the Middlesboro campus of Southeast Kentucky Community amp; Technical College with Robin Wilhoit, WBIR-TV (Knoxville) news anchor as the keynote speaker.

Approximately 100 students, faculty and staff from the college participated in the event that was begun in 2001 by faculty members Rhonda Breedlove and Lisa Ahlstedt.

According to Amelia Simpson, who, along with members of the Student Government Association currently sponsors the event each October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the SGA purchases Yoplait yogurt with pink lids from local merchants at a discount. The food is provided to students, staff and faculty and each is asked to collect and donate the lids that are sent with monetary donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Yoplait makes a donation to the foundation based on the number of lids collected.

For the past three years, the SGA and I have coordinated the event and this year we had a tremendous crowd to come out and hear our speaker Robin Wilhoit, said Simpson. Robin spoke about WBIR TVs Buddy Check Program which deals with self examination and early detection.

The 2009 Yoplait Day event was also held in conjunction with the health fair which is coordinated by faculty member Sheila Miracle. She is assisted by Rebecca Miller.

Sherri Brock, the SGA president at the Middlesboro campus, also played a key role in Yoplait Day, according to Simpson.