RSO rallies student support for cancer patients
Grant Lile
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: News
With 14,800 new cases diagnosed in the state last year, Arkansas is certainly not immune to the threat of cancer, but, through an event student advocates describe as fun and meaningful, students can contribute to the statewide battle against the disease.
Sponsored by the UA chapter of Colleges Against Cancer, the second annual UA Relay for Life begins 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, and continues through 6 a.m. Saturday, April 4, in the HPER.
"Staying up all night is our way of symbolizing the constant battle of a cancer patient," said Chaney Prock, vice president of CAC.
The fundraiser will feature an all-night deejay, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, volleyball games, a Twinkie eating contest, a hot-wing eating contest, Baggo and ladder golf, as well as Nintendo Wii and Rock Band competitions, said Steve Sparks, the RSO president.
Students who attended last year thoroughly enjoyed themselves, they said.
"Our team, Heil's Hogs, made grilled cheese and played Rock Band to help support the cause," said Lauren Heil, who competed on a team with her brother, Brik. "It was truly an amazing and long-lasting night."
ASG President Carter Ford agreed with Heil's positive assessment.
"Relay for Life was a fun, enjoyable and meaningful experience," he said. "It's inspiring to hear the stories of cancer survivors while at the same time celebrating efforts made for a good cause."
Those efforts paid off last year, as CAC raised $10,000 for the American Cancer Society, but CAC members hope to raise even more this year, Prock said.
The money raised from the event will go toward American Cancer Society programs and services in Northwest Arkansas - programs like Reach to Recovery, which offers newly diagnosed breast cancer patients guidance and support from a local breast cancer survivor, or Road to Recovery, which provides transportation to cancer patients who might have trouble getting to and from their treatments, said Lindsey Bowers, the development representative of the American Cancer Society mid-south region.
The American Cancer Society also funds cancer research and awards local cancer survivors college scholarships to help further their education, Bowers said.
"We [at the American Cancer Society] will be there with our Relay shoes on and will be providing information about cancer and our programs to those who will be attending," Bowers said. "We are so excited to have the University of Arkansas' support in the fight against cancer."
To register a team or find out more about the Relay for Life at the University of Arkansas, call Sparks at (501) 352-0442 or e-mail sjsparks@uark.edu. Individuals or teams may sign up online at www.relayforlife.org/fayettevillear. For cancer information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
Sponsored by the UA chapter of Colleges Against Cancer, the second annual UA Relay for Life begins 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, and continues through 6 a.m. Saturday, April 4, in the HPER.
"Staying up all night is our way of symbolizing the constant battle of a cancer patient," said Chaney Prock, vice president of CAC.
The fundraiser will feature an all-night deejay, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, volleyball games, a Twinkie eating contest, a hot-wing eating contest, Baggo and ladder golf, as well as Nintendo Wii and Rock Band competitions, said Steve Sparks, the RSO president.
Students who attended last year thoroughly enjoyed themselves, they said.
"Our team, Heil's Hogs, made grilled cheese and played Rock Band to help support the cause," said Lauren Heil, who competed on a team with her brother, Brik. "It was truly an amazing and long-lasting night."
ASG President Carter Ford agreed with Heil's positive assessment.
"Relay for Life was a fun, enjoyable and meaningful experience," he said. "It's inspiring to hear the stories of cancer survivors while at the same time celebrating efforts made for a good cause."
Those efforts paid off last year, as CAC raised $10,000 for the American Cancer Society, but CAC members hope to raise even more this year, Prock said.
The money raised from the event will go toward American Cancer Society programs and services in Northwest Arkansas - programs like Reach to Recovery, which offers newly diagnosed breast cancer patients guidance and support from a local breast cancer survivor, or Road to Recovery, which provides transportation to cancer patients who might have trouble getting to and from their treatments, said Lindsey Bowers, the development representative of the American Cancer Society mid-south region.
The American Cancer Society also funds cancer research and awards local cancer survivors college scholarships to help further their education, Bowers said.
"We [at the American Cancer Society] will be there with our Relay shoes on and will be providing information about cancer and our programs to those who will be attending," Bowers said. "We are so excited to have the University of Arkansas' support in the fight against cancer."
To register a team or find out more about the Relay for Life at the University of Arkansas, call Sparks at (501) 352-0442 or e-mail sjsparks@uark.edu. Individuals or teams may sign up online at www.relayforlife.org/fayettevillear. For cancer information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
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