Local Group of High School Students Look to Tackle COVID-19
Arizona – June 15th, 2020 – A group of Arizona high school students that came together to create Screening On Wheels, a nonprofit designed to bring cancer screenings to the underprivileged, is now putting its efforts towards the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Screening on Wheels is a non-profit organization that was formed in August of 2019 by local Scottsdale students Arjun Moorthy, Pranav Gudise, Byron Butaney, Raymond Nucuta, and Max Boissiere. Screening on Wheels looks to mobilize cancer screenings in Arizona. They seek to partner with private practices and hospitals in order to educate and raise overall cancer awareness. Their screenings are primarily focused on breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, and mental health, with plans to expand to other diseases as they grow in the future.
In the crisis that is COVID-19, local students, Arjun Moorthy, Pranav Gudise, Byron Butaney, Raymond Nucuta, and Max Boissiere had a realization about the implications of COVID-19 on cancer patients. These patients are classified as those with “pre-existing conditions”. Patients of this classification are statistically more likely to experience more dangerous complications from the virus, which can result in life-threatening, often fatal cases.
Community-centered, Mobile Healthcare
In the past, the group has worked at street medicine fairs to further their mission of bringing mobile cancer screening technologies to underprivileged groups in the hopes of providing preventative health care to those unable to seek it out independently. In September of 2019, the team was able to perform over 150 cancer screenings for the homeless at the SHOW Phoenix street medicine fair.
“Although we came together to bring mobile screening technologies to underprivileged groups in Arizona, COVID-19 has recently taken center-stage. Individuals with weakened immune systems from strenuous procedures like chemotherapy face an unprecedented risk during the current outbreak, and we are currently doing everything we can to minimize these risks — from supplying masks to handing out meals.” Mr. Butaney said.
As the virus continues to ravage through nearly every demographic, the organization decided to refocus their efforts.
“We felt like we had to do something more for at-risk cancer patients. Even though we could not continue our mobile screening efforts, we knew that ‘front-line’ healthcare workers were facing severe shortages in materials such as gloves, leading us to begin targeted fundraising for the necessary equipment”, Mr. Moorthy said.
Partnered with the Phoenix Cancer Support Network, the group has started an online fundraiser to raise enough money to donate necessary equipment to healthcare professionals and underprivileged individuals. Their GoFundMe can be found at: https://gf.me/u/x7m96n.
“Despite our current size as an organization, we can really impact the fight against the virus –– any and all help is necessary. All the money that we raise will go directly to obtaining critical materials for healthcare workers combatting the virus”, said Mr. Gudise.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, the group distributed meals to the homeless. “The underprivileged were hit very hard by the virus, and we feel obligated to help them in any way we can”, said Mr. Boissiere.
For those interested in their educational materials, their community efforts, or donating to the organization, Screening On Wheels can be found online at: screeningonwheels.org/.
Media Contact
Company Name: Screening On Wheels
Contact Person: Arjun Moorthy
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: www.screeningonwheels.org
