Holy Cross Community Steps Up to Fight Cancer

Cancer Walk Students, faculty, and staff from the College of the Holy Cross will join thousands of people from Central Massachusetts on Sun., Sept. 23 for the 9th annual Walk to Cure Cancer, a day of celebration, remembrance, and action. 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, 150 students, faculty, and staff from Holy Cross participated in the walk. This year, the College expects 300 walkers and will work to raise $10,000.

Alice Laffey, associate professor of religious studies at Holy Cross, has participated in the Walk for several years, and says last year’s event really hit home: “I am so much more aware now of the number of people with cancer among us in the College Community, as well as the number who are in remission.”

Kristin Neal ’08 is one of the many students organizing teams and raising money among friends and classmates, “People are really eager to help because they understand that the money is going directly to cancer research.  Unfortunately, so many students have lost members of their families or close friends to this disease.  This is our chance to do something concrete that can truly make a difference.”

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 you're walking.

Holy Cross participants will meet on campus the day of the walk (Sunday, Sept. 23) from 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. on the lower level on the Hogan Campus Center – near the Gesso Art Gallery and adjacent to Crossroads. Pledge sheets and money will be collected, and T-shirts will be distributed. Bus service to and from UMass Medical School will be provided, beginning at 11 a.m.

After the Walk, at 1:30 p.m., UMass is hosting a dance party with Chubby Checker.  There will be a “late bus” back to Holy Cross for those who want to stay for the music and dancing.

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 (lsearles@holycross.edu) in Public Affairs to volunteer or if you have any questions.

If you would like to make a donation or set up a donation page, please visit the Holy Cross Team area. To join the team and create a page, go to the above link and click on the button that says "Get Started" where you will be registered and can start sending e-mails to potential donors.

www.walktocurecancer.com