Washburn University Volume 143, Issue 8
News
October 19, 2016
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Throat to liver: Kenny Cann, Kenny will overcome
Photo courtesy of Washburn University
Blessed Bods: Beloved Chartwells worker, Kenny Cann, shows his Washburn pride by posing with Mr. Ichabod in the Union Underground. Cann has been a positive and cheerful member of the Washburn campus, talking to students as he works behind the pasta counter and wishing them to have a “blessed day.”
Lisa Herdman
WASHBURN REVIEW
Kenny Cann, also referred to by some students as “Mr. Blest”, was a Chartwell’s worker who many students may recognize as the worker at the pasta station who told students to “have a blessed day,” recently finished his radiation and chemo treatments for his throat cancer. However, during this time of recovery he was diagnosed with liver cancer.
Cann has decided to go home to be with his family in South Carolina who will help him transition into hospice care. He has worked eight years at Washburn University, serving food to students and telling them to have a blessed day. Coworkers and students have expressed interest and worry over Cann’s disappearance from campus. A banner signing event from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 brought students to the Me-
morial Union to sign and write messages to Cann while he is recovering. “Kenny would brighten up all the students life’s and he really makes an impact,” said Daniel Adame, a Chartwells Food Service worker and close friend of Cann’s. “If you were having a bad day he would fix it... I want him to know that he will never be alone and I want people to have a blessed day.” Cann has been recognized for his work by Washburn’s 2015 Muriel D. Clark Student
Photo by Lisa Herdman
Blessings: Students and faculty gather to sign a banner for Kenny Cann, labeled “Blessings for Kenny.” It was located on a table in front of the Corner Store in the Memorial Union in support of Cann’s ongoing battle with cancer.
Life Achieving Excellence Award. Well wishes and cards can still be sent to Cann through multiple Washburn faculty and staff members. For information, contact Janel or Jon Rutherford in the Memorial Union, Ryan Calovich (SAR-BTAC), or Debra Mikulka (Garvey 233). You can make a donation that will go towards helping to pay Cann’s medical funds at any U.S. Bank location: USBank/KennyCann/145573
164863. “I hear a lot of students talking about Kenny, everyone asks where he is - we miss him,” said Roshelle Reid, Chartwells Food Service and Catering employee. “When he’s gone, it makes a big difference.” Lisa Herdman, Lisa.Herdman@washburn.edu, is an English and mass media double major.