Wichita State University’s Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) is launching a fundraising initiative to help make a difference in the fight against brain cancer.

Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18-May 17, the RSC will raise money for the Dragon Master Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to networking with hospitals, medical schools and other groups to change the way cancer research is conducted.

During the RSC’s involvement, Wichita State students, staff and community members can help raise funds by recycling old hair care, skin care and cosmetics packaging. Bins will be located at the WSU University Bookstore, RSC Info Desk, Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes, Heskett Center, Fairmount Towers, Shocker Hall and Greek houses, and contributed items will be recycled to generate funds for the foundation.

This isn’t the first time Wichita State has partnered with the Dragon Master Foundation. On Oct. 9, the University Bookstore sponsored the foundation for National Student Day by having students snap photos of themselves doing volunteer work.

Product packages eligible for recycling during the RSC drive include:

• Hair care packaging, such as shampoo bottles and caps, conditioner bottles and caps, hair gel tubes and caps, hair spray bottles and triggers and hair paste plastic jars and caps.
• Skin care packaging, such as lip balm tubes, face soap dispensers and tubes, face lotion bottles, tubes and plastic jars, body wash containers, soap tubes and dispensers, body lotion dispensers and bottles, shaving foam tubes (no cans) and hand lotion bottles and tubes.
• Cosmetics packaging, such as lipstick cases, lip gloss tubes, mascara tubes, eye shadow cases, bronzer cases, foundation packaging and bottles, powder cases, eyeliner cases, eyeliner pencils, eye shadow tubes, concealer tubes, concealer sticks and lip liner pencils.

The Dragon Master Foundation was started by a Wichita couple, Richard Haddock, who graduated from WSU in 1981 with a degree in business studies, and Amanda Haddock, in honor of her 16-year-old son, David Pearson.

Pearson was diagnosed with “glioblastoma multiforme” brain cancer in 2010. He underwent treatment in four hospitals and a clinical trial, receiving support from friends, family and celebrities before losing his battle 20 months later.

Hoping to turn their tragedy into something positive and help solve the riddle of cancer, Pearson’s mother and stepfather used her passion for volunteering and his expertise in computers to launch the Dragon Master Foundation with the goal of promoting collaboration in cancer research. To do that, they advocate the use of big data – employing computers to analyze huge volumes of complete genomic data to find patterns and, hopefully, the path to a cure.

The Dragon Master Foundation is aligned with a number of important cancer research centers, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Childhood Brain Tumor and Tissue Consortium, Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Children’s Hospital of Seattle.

Fundraising for the RSC event will be done through the Beauty Brigade recycling program.

For more information about the Dragon Master Foundation, go to dragonmasterfoundation.org or find them on Facebook.