FCLC Walks to Fight Cancer

By NATALIA RAMIREZ
July 12, 2011

Published: October 5, 2010

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Oct. 17, Colleges against Cancer (CAC) at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), who work in association with the American Cancer Society (ACS), will be volunteering with cancer survivors and others participating in Central Park. The walk begins at 9 a.m. at the 72nd Street entrance to Central Park, and continues throughout most of the park.

CAC at FCLC works to provide students with the opportunity to fundraise and organize events on campus. With over 300 chapters nationwide, more students are contributing to the fight against cancer, according to CAC. Co-Directors, Mindy Lai, FCLC ’12, and Maureen Sweet, FCLC ’12, said their primary goals are advocacy, cancer education, Relay For Life and survivorship. They meet every other Thursday at 6 p.m’.

Observer: “Fighting for more birthdays”—is that the national slogan or did you come up with it?

Colleges Against Cancer: We love the “more birthdays” slogan! But unfortunately, we didn’t come up with it. ACS started calling itself “the official sponsor of birthdays” in summer 2009, so we’ve been working off of that.

Observer: The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is next week. What will you be doing?

CAC: We’re volunteering at [the walk]. As of right now CAC has 20 people signed up to volunteer at the event. We will be working beside staff members of ACS to hand out water and register walkers.

Observer: What other events have you planned for this semester?

CAC: We’re holding a Smoke-Out Party related to the Great American Smoke-Out on Nov. 18. We’ll also be caroling at the Hope Lodge (a free hotel for cancer patients run by ACS) during the holiday season. And of course we’ll be working all the while on generating interest and fundraising for this year’s Relay For Life!

Observer: When is Relay?

CAC: Relay For Life is scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Observer: What is your goal in fundraising?

CAC: Our goal in fundraising is $25,000.

Observer: How much did you raise last year? Are you doing anything different this year in order to raise more?

CAC: Last year we raised over $17,000. We truly believe that we can get this number up by starting earlier, which is more possible because CAC is finally an established club, and building on the student interest in Relay that has definitely increased over the past two years.