The Holy Cross Community Laces up Their Sneakers to Find a Cure

WORCESTER, Mass. – Students, faculty, and staff from the College of the Holy Cross will join thousands of people from Central Massachusetts on Sun., Sept. 13 for the 11th annual Walk to Cure Cancer.

The College is a flagship sponsor of this unique fundraising event, which over the years has raised millions of dollars to support cutting-edge cancer research and build the UMass Memorial Cancer Center, the world class research center in Worcester.

Last year, 250 students, faculty, and staff from Holy Cross participated in the walk and raised approximately $18,000. With more extensive outreach this year, the College hopes to exceed those records.

Helena Mahan, a physical plant employee at the College for the past 11 years, was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in 2006. The doctor told her and her family it was only a matter of time, but Mahan who is still battling cancer today, participated in the Walk to Cure Cancer for the first time in 2007: “When I saw all those people—young and old—all walking to cure cancer, it gave me hope,” says Mahan. “Best thing to do is keep strong and never lose the hope. That is what keeps the person whole.”

Mahan received chemotherapy the day before the fundraiser and still fought to finish the five-mile walk.

“Helena is very inspirational—she does not give up,” says Jesse Baptista, physical plant foreman at Holy Cross.

That is why she will be walking again in the 11th Annual Walk to Cure Cancer, along with her children and grandchildren.

The Walk to Cure Cancer begins and ends at UMass Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, and follows a five-mile (or optional one-mile) loop around Lake Quinsigamond. Every Holy Cross walker will receive a purple T-shirt, with space on the back to write the name of the person for whom they’re walking.

Holy Cross participants will meet on campus the day of the walk (Sunday, Sept. 13) from 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Hogan Campus Center third floor lobby, for walker registration. Pledge sheets and money will be collected, and T-shirts will be distributed.  Bus service to and from UMass Medical School will be provided the morning of the walk, leaving from Hogan at 11:15 a.m. A group photo of all Holy Cross participants will be taken upon arrival at the walk, at 11:30 a.m. on South Rd., station 1.

Holy Cross participants providing their own transportation to UMass on the day of the walk can register with pledge sheets and donations, and receive a T-shirt at the Hogan first floor lobby table on Friday, Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Walker Registration Forms and Sponsor Sign Up Sheets are available in displays at Cool Beans, Crossroads, and other locations throughout Hogan. They are also available online.

If you’re not available to walk, but would still like to participate, Holy Cross needs help with set-up, T-shirts, collecting registration forms, and other logistics at Hogan the Sunday morning of the Walk. Please contact Laura Searles in public affairs to volunteer or if you have any questions.

For more information about the walk visit www.walktocurecancer.com.