Crawley

On Friday, October 11, the Roxboro Community School (RCS) Bulldogs volleyball teams will honor a long-time member of the RCS family when they host Crazy for Crawley Night to benefit cancer research and treatment. 

Roland Crawley has served as custodian at RCS since 2009. Before the building housed the school, Mr. Crawley worked in it as an employee of Roxboro Cotton Mill/Tultex. His friendliness and playfulness have touched countless students, staff, parents and visitors in positive ways. Mr. Crawley always has a smile and a kind word to offer. He is also known as a bit of a prankster and loves to tease his colleagues. Recently, Mr. Crawley was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. He is missed by everyone in the building. 

Crazy for Crawley is a means of raising funds to go toward cancer treatment and research while honoring a special member of the RCS family. The volleyball teams have held an annual fundraiser night since 2014. In years past, parents and other members of the Roxboro and Person County community have been honored and recognized for their struggle with cancer. This year, the girls elected to dedicate the event to the school’s beloved custodian. 

Beginning on Monday, September 30, Crazy for Crawley t-shirts will be for  sale for $15. Shirts can be pre-ordered by seeing Carrie Hawkins in Room 322 or emailing her at hawkinscb@roxborocs.org. Shirts can also be ordered during games between September 30 and October 9. RCS Volleyball members will also sell shirts during both lunches Monday, September 30, and Tuesday, October 1.  All pre-ordered shirts will be delivered on Thursday, October 10. 

Students and staff who purchase a shirt may wear it to school on Friday, October 11 for a free Jeans Day, and to the October 11 volleyball game for free admission. 

During intermission, all RCS staff members who have fought or are currently battling cancer will be recognized. All who have been touched by cancer will be recognized as well, in an effort to show that No Dog Will Fight Alone. 

According to the 2017 State of the County Health Report produced by the Person County Health Department, cancer is the leading cause of death among Personians. The North Carolina state rate between 2012 and 2016 was 166.5 deaths per 100,000. Person County’s adjusted rate of cancer deaths was 195.8 during the same time period. 

The 2018 Person County Community Health Assessment, (PCCHA) concludes that, “Lung cancer is the most common site-specific cancer in Person County, with a mortality rate that has been consistently higher than the comparable state rate since 2003-2007. In 2012-2016, the lung cancer mortality [rate] was 20% higher than the state rate. In 2012-2016 the mortality rate was 59% higher among males compared to females. The lung cancer incidence rate has decreased 26% from a high point in 2006-2010, though it remains higher than the state rate.”

Colorectal and breast cancer rates are also high in Person County, according to the PCCHA, and “Cancer was the most commonly selected health concern among 2018 Person County Community Health Survey respondents, with 76% of participants choosing it. Nine percent of respondents reported a diagnosis of cancer.”

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