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Smith
Students Help Raise Funds for Cancer
 Several Smith houses joined groups from other area colleges
late last month in the Relay for Life 2007, a fundraising
event for the American Cancer Society.
The fifth annual Relay for Life, which involved more than
2,100 students from the Five Colleges, raised $170,000 for
cancer research and local patient services. The students
walked through the night of April 24 to help raise the funds.
About 500 luminaria were lit throughout Northampton in honor
of cancer victims and survivors.
“The
Five College area community really showed their spirit," said
Traci Heath, Community Executive for Development for the
American Cancer Society. “We had 151 teams including
students from Amherst College, UMass-Amherst, Smith College,
Hampshire College, and Mount Holyoke College. It was very
touching and emotional for all of us. I am very proud of
the hard work and dedication of everyone who helped make
this Relay such a successful event."
The
Relay For Life of the Five College Area is an all-night
community event bringing together teams of families, friends,
religious organizations, neighborhoods, and businesses
-- all with the same goal of curing cancer. Teams of walkers
keep a continuous pace throughout the night, walking in
shifts to raise funds. Meanwhile, a full agenda of entertainment,
including music, team fund-raising activities, fun theme
laps and contests keep them energized.
The Five College Relay for Life is part of an international
effort that brings together millions of people to raise money
to help prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering
from the disease. In 2006, 3 million people participated
and 500,000 cancer survivors walked the opening laps.
Participating Smith houses included
Albright, Chapin, Comstock, Cushing, Gillett, Jordan, Lamont,
Morris, Morrow, Northrup, Park, Talbot, Tyler and Wilson,
as well as student groups from the Campus Center, EKTA, and
swimming and diving team.
The
American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based
voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating
cancer as a major health problem through research, education,
advocacy, and service. |
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