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>>Narrator: It is common for
RIT's Greek organizations to do
charity work...
>>"Cans for LAMs. How's it
going? Um, do you have any cans
to donate for Cans for LAMs?"
>>"Actually, I have a lot of
cans to give to you."
>>...but few causes hit as close
to home as Cans for LAMs does
for Triangle Fraternity.
For fraternity member, Gavin
Schoepp, this one is personal.
Gavin's girlfriend, Charlene
Hannah, also an RIT student, is
watching her mother battle a
rare lung disease called
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis,
or LAMs disease.
>>"There's no cure for it."
>>The lung condition progresses
slowly and exclusively affects
women.
Here on the left side of the
screen is a healthy lung.
The image on the right shows
the effects of LAMS disease.
Smooth muscles develop on the
lungs, restricting the
airways - ultimately resulting
in respiratory failure.
>>"Patients are given the option
to get a lung transplant, which
can help prolong their life,
but eventually the disease will
take over their lungs."
Doctors diagnosed Charlene's
mother, Shelley Hannah, with
the disease nine years ago.
The condition has emotionally
and financially burdened
Charlene's family.
>>"She gets really depressed
about it so I mean it just
overall really affects her.
It's had a toll on every aspect
of my life, my schoolwork, you
know, my friendship, my poor
boyfriend having to deal with
my mental breakdowns."
>>When she first got on the
lung transplant list they told
her that she needed to raise
about ten thousand dollars.
>>Once Gavin learned of the
family's medical bills, he came
up with the idea Cans for LAMs.
>>""Really anything we can
give towards her mother, help
out with the bills even if it
doesn't go directly towards the
transplant, that's what were
trying to do.
I expressed to my whole
fraternity what I wanted to do
and how I wanted to help raise
money for Charlene's mom.
And they all thought it was a
good idea. There's big LAMs
posters and there's a little
story about Charlene's story,
and, you know, deposit your
cans."
>>Primarily located in the
residence halls, Gavin has set
up depositories for people to
drop off their recyclable cans.
Charlene's mom is not aware of
the fundraising efforts at RIT
on her behalf.
>>""She has no idea it's coming
and when she does find out
she's gonna be ecstatic and I
can't wait to see the look on
her face!"
>>To donate your recyclables
for Cans for LAMs please call
631-987-7637.