Photo by Kevin Kuchta
By Karolina Granda, Editor in Chief
Commonality of Cancer Diagnoses Worldwide
A commonly acknowledged truth is the prevalence of cancer diagnoses for people of all ages, wealth statuses, resigning regions, and medical histories. Whether you have scrolled past a social media posting of someone struggling with cancer, a loved one is currently battling the disease or lost their battle, or you yourself have had concerns about the possibility of cancer cells overtaking your body – it is an issue that is difficult to be unaware of. The World Health Organization notes cancer as being “the second cause of death throughout the world, with 10 million deaths.” Based on such statistics, it is necessary that we come together to contribute toward cancer research in order to minimize these numbers and show our collective support.
What Is Cancer?
The National Library of Medicine defines cancer as being, “a disease that begins with genetic and epigenetic alterations occurring in specific cells, some of which can spread and migrate to other tissues.” Essentially, cancer cells develop due to defects in DNA repair. Unfortunately, this initial mutation often goes undiscovered and it isn’t until decades later that a visible tumor appears. This inability to efficiently identify cancer cells is oftentimes what makes patients untreatable. In the presence of treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy, the expected number of 2025 cancer cases is to be 2,041,910 with as many as 618,120 deaths (American Cancer Society, 2025). The need for contributions toward cancer research is clearly prevalent, and luckily you can help.
Tap Out Cancer 2025
As much as we appreciate researchers and doctors for all that they do in fighting this deadly disease, the ability to contribute to those fighting cancer does not require a diploma or special title – all you need is a little bit of knowledge and a little bit more heart. The most effective matter is to begin with knowledge of your surrounding community. Moraine Valley student and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enthusiast, Kevin Kuchta, has decided to take initiative by beginning his own charity project through “Tap Out Cancer.” All of the money raised for this charity event will go toward fighting cancer. So far he has been successful in raising $400; and in order for his efforts to continue to be a success, he needs his fellow Moraine Valley peers to show support for his cause. The charity event’s deadline is October 11, 2025 and will close off with a Jiu Jitsu fight taking place at the Oak Lawn Community Pavillion that same day at 7:00 am.
Who Is Kevin Kuchta?
Alongside establishing a form of relatability as a fellow dedicated Moraine Valley student, there is a lot more to be said about Kevin Kuchta. As a Cyclone, his dedication toward our campus resources has landed him with a 4.0 GPA which will carry him toward his goal of working in healthcare. Alongside being a top student, he balances extracurricular activities including Budo Martial Arts Club, Psychology Club, and STEM Club with his job as an MVCC teaching assistant for Anatomy and Physiology. His efforts toward self discipline go beyond mental development as he is also an athlete. He is a top performer in Moraine’s fitness programs including CrossFit, pilates, yoga, and much more. Although Kevin is in a positive mental state at the moment that allows him to expand his efforts beyond himself, his past struggles with depression caused by football injuries did not always allow him to maintain such a positive mindset. This setback caused him to lose his athletic abilities and live a life of self doubt for a period of time. Luckily, he was able to come back even stronger by adjusting his mental health, workout regime, diet habits, and sleep schedule. This change in lifestyle allowed him to lose 110 pounds in just one year. Just as cancer, mental health is not an easy battle to fight. Kevin’s personal ability to improve his mindset is what inspired him to lead a life in which he works to improve the lives of others. This is what makes “Tap Out Cancer” and peoples’ awareness of it so important to him.
