Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Photos By eric zitz

Marlins walk for cancer

By Yvonne Johnson

ytpoirier@vwc.edu

According to the American Cancer Society, over 500,000 people died in 2007 of cancer. Suzanne Lazarowitz is doing her part to help to lessen that number for this year. Lazarowitz is the president of the Relay for Life group and a junior here at Virginia Wesleyan. The Relay for Life group recently held a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and raised almost $2,000. The fundraiser was a spaghetti dinner in which attendees bought tickets and luminaries, and others donated online.

There were four main groups that were big supporters for this year’s Relay for Life event: Tri-Sigma, ASA, AKA and the Drama Club. Tri-Sigma raised the most of the three groups, donating $245. In previous Relay for Life events, there have been walks and a “Miss Wesleyan” pageant in which men dressed up as women and competed in a Miss America type pageant.

This year has been the second spaghetti dinner Relay event and the third year a Relay event was held on campus. In the past, however, there has not been much participation. Without the help of the American Cancer Society and enough participants, this year doesn’t come close to last year’s grand total donation of $9000.

“This year was very successful; we ran out of sauce,” said Lazarowitz speaking of the spaghetti dinner.

“We may have done better if we had more luminaries to sell,” she continued.

Luminaries are a candle in remembrance of those who have been affected by cancer. Matt Richardson is also a member of the Relay for Life group at VWC, and he has been all four years.

“I have had some family members who have had cancer,” said Richardson when asked why he chose to join this particular group. Katie Zitz agreed. She too is close to several cancer survivors. Zitz is a freshman, and this is her first semester in the Relay group.

Diane Hotaling [dhotaling@vwc.edu] and Kristen Whalen [kwhalen@vwc.edu] are the staff in charge of the events. If anyone has any suggestions for upcoming Relay for Life events please feel free to email either of them.

“We are still looking for the perfect Relay event, the one to bring out the most participation,” said Richardson.

The Relay for Life group’s goal is to have most of the campus involved.

“There are many cancer survivors here on campus, and other people close to us,” said Lazarowitz.

The Relay for Life group meets Sunday nights in the Grille at 7 p.m. and welcomes new additions to their team.