By Bob Clark
The Evening Tribune
Sat Apr 04, 2009, 06:51 PM EDT
Print This Print This |
ShareThis
Alfred, N.Y. -
Upwards of 200 people were expected to march in support of cancer research at the McLane Center at Alfred University Saturday.
Eric Hudack, a sophomore from Buffalo and co-chair of the AU Relay, said the turnout this year was very good.
“We’re right around 30 teams,” Hudack said. “A lot of people come in at the last minute, so who knows (who will attend) ... 170-200 people would be great.”
Funds also poured in for the event, he added, with more coming in all the time.
“People still keep donating after the event has ended,” he said. “The last I saw, we were over $11,000.”
While the weather in Alfred Friday was terrible, Hudack said he was pleased with how students, faculty and townspeople came together and raised funds for cancer research and treatment.
“It’s a community effort,” he said, adding AU students reach out to Alfred State College students across the valley and to the townspeople of Alfred.
For Hudack, his participation comes from seeing cancer in his own family.
“My mother is a survivor from breast cancer. I was really young when she had cancer, and I didn’t understand it too well,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to go through that again.”
Thomas Boyle, head of Cancer Services Program of Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties, accepted an award from the Relay for offering cancer services to area residents in the face of budget cuts from the state government.
“Did you know here every week in Allegany County five people are diagnosed with cancer, and two people die of cancer every day?” he said, adding groups like the ACS and Relay for Life help fund early screening activities and decrease mortality rates.
AU graduate student Alisa Makson, named a “Hero of Hope” by the American Cancers Society, spoke to the gathered crowd about her own battle with cancer — leukemia that was diagnosed when she was 4 years old.
“When my friends were learning reading and math, I was getting chemotherapy. When my friends were outside playing, I was inside lying down because I was too sick,” she said.
Makson said her first Relay participation was at college in Maine five years ago.
“What’s a better way to fight cancer than an overnight party with 300 of my closest friends?” she said.
Along with the college students, members of the community marched alongside showing their support. “I like to see all these young people getting involved and doing something bigger than themselves,” said Carrie Burdick of Alfred, a breast cancer survivor at the rally with her mother, Sharon, also a breast cancer survivor.
“Just seeing that many people out is great,” said Sharon Burdick. “No matter where the funds go for cancer, it’s helpful.”
No comments:
Post a Comment