Wendy Cogswell, Phillips Academy Public Safety (PAPS) Officer, battled breast cancer for ten years of her life. Finally cancer-free, she participated in a walk-a-thon with over 150 students and faculty members to raise money for the American Cancer Society on Sunday.
“This [walk-a-thon] really made me feel good. You don’t realize that a lot of the kids who go here have someone that they know [affected by cancer]. To show a little support and some encouragement saying things like, ‘I’ll be here right behind you,’ is wonderful,” said Cogswell.
This year’s event was the second annual walk-a-thon hosted by Campuses Against Cancer (CAC), a student-run cancer awareness club.
Walking around the Sorota Track at their leisure, with no required distance or speed, participants raised a total of $1305 towards cancer research.
CAC decided to donate profits to the American Cancer Society because the organization aims to find ways to eradicate all types of cancer at its roots, according to Sophia Lloyd-Thomas ’14, Co-President of CAC.
CAC raised money through pledges made by participants and selling food provided by Whole Foods Market and Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant, as well as homemade baked goods.
Lisa Joel, Faculty Advisor to CAC, said, “[The walk-a-thon] is a great way to get folks out and raise some money and have some fun. It was on a beautiful day and we were glad the weather was cooperating.”
“It’s important for kids to have a venue to come and talk. [Cancer] is a potential disease that can hit anyone. One in five women are affected by breast cancer and that’s a pretty scary statistic,” added Joel.
Joel said that the club would have loved to have more participants in the event.
“The organizers of the event did a fantastic job promoting the walk throughout the week, and the successful fundraising results reflect their great efforts. The walk-a-thon itself, however, garnered little student participation, which was unfortunate,” said Zach Sturman ’12, whose grandmother passed away from pancreatic cancer and whose aunt lost her battle with breast cancer only a few years ago.
He added, “Next year, I think it would great to see a walk-a-thon with an overwhelming student presence, truly rendering a ‘campus against cancer’ for just a few hours.”
As part of an initiative to raise cancer awareness on campus, CAC sponsored a school dance on Saturday, the night before the walk-a-thon. A week earlier, CAC also planned a special dinner menu in Paresky Commons with antioxidant-rich foods, which are thought to be effective in fighting cancer.
Maya Odei ’12 and Miranda Haymon ’12 founded CAC last year. The club currently has around 20 student members, but Lloyd-Thomas hopes to increase the club’s presence on campus.
