Wynter Strauss and her mother, Megan, are doing their part to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer. While acting as principal for a day, Wynter was able to tell her whole school about how pancreatic cancer affects people. She also had her classmates wear purple to raise awareness for the disease.
“Wynter declared it a ‘Purple Out’ day to raise awareness and show support for those affected by pancreatic cancer,” said Our Lady of Victory Principal Justin Matias.
“Her thoughtful leadership inspired our entire school community to stand in solidarity and wear purple proudly.”
Principal For A Day
Wynter’s middle school held an auction, and the prize was for a student to be the principal for a day. Wynter won and talked with her principal to share ideas. One idea was to bring in Raising Cane’s for lunch, but the other was to bring awareness to pancreatic cancer.
“I had the idea for everyone to wear purple,” said Wynter.
She also had the goal to ask students who wore purple to donate a dollar to Project Purple, but her school did not allow it. In response, her family personally donated the money for every student, a total of $487, which ended up being $587 after a generous donation from a family friend.
Wynter’s biggest goal as principal was to “Spread awareness for Pancreatic cancer.”
Wynter also said that through her actions, “People would start learning about the cancer, and that you shouldn’t joke about it. It’s an actual serious thing.” It is common, especially in middle school, for people to joke about and downplay the devastating effects of cancer, and Wynter wants to put an end to this.
Wynter took her position as principal very seriously. She even fired a teacher for not wearing purple. She also agreed to give many teachers raises. While Wynter may not be able to actually fire anybody or give out raises, she can raise awareness for pancreatic cancer, and that is exactly what she did.
How Pancreatic Cancer Has Affected the Strauss Family
In 2006, Megan’s father, Dan, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. According to Megan, her father “Only ended up living for six months.” Then, Megan’s uncle, Bill, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He only survived for nine months.
Megan often sees ladybugs, which she believes are a connection to her father.
“My dad sends me ladybugs,” said Megan. She also expressed that she sees ladybugs everywhere she goes, and has to buy anything ladybug-themed when she sees it.
Wynter has the same connection to ladybugs as her mother. In a trip to Washington D.C., at the Arlington National Cemetery, Wynter had a ladybug on her pants, and it “stuck with her forever,” according to Megan. The Strauss family even took a picture of a ladybug band-aid, because even if they find something that is not an actual ladybug, the family still knows it is Megan’s father who sends it.
It is because of her history with pancreatic cancer that Megan got introduced to Project Purple. She and her husband ran for Project Purple once, and they continue to show their support and raise awareness. “When we run, we still wear purple,” said Megan.
The couple also frequently donates to Project Purple, all the way from Texas, over 1,800 miles away from Project Purple’s location in Seymour, Connecticut.
Wynter shares her mother’s connection to pancreatic cancer, as she was not able to meet her grandfather, and her great-uncle passed when she was just a baby. Also, one of her classmates’ grandmothers passed away from this disease.
Making Her Family Proud
Megan is used to wearing purple. She works in a high school, and in November, she wears purple every day. By doing this, she causes students to ask why she is wearing purple, and then she can tell students about her father and explain how pancreatic cancer affects people’s lives.
Megan was incredibly proud to see her daughter follow in her footsteps.
“I loved that this was something that she wanted to do,” said Megan. “It really touched my heart.”
Megan believes that her father and uncle would be thrilled by what Wynter has accomplished. “I think that both of them would be super proud of her.”
Megan sees a lot of her father in Wynter. They both have a “goofy personality” and have “a great sense of humor.” While Wynter never got to meet her grandfather, Megan gets to see him through Wynter and the ladybugs he sends.
It was not just Megan who was proud of Wynter, however. Wynter’s grandmother, Grandpa Dan’s wife, is equally as proud and was “really happy” that she was raising awareness for a disease that has had such a huge impact on her life.
Wynter showed compassion and heart in her actions as principal. She does have one final goal, however, and this is to make pancreatic cancer “extinct.”
If you are inspired by Wynter and Megan and would like to make an impact, donate to Project Purple here.
If you’re interested in starting your own event, contact us!
