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NEWS
| April 23
Health
Cancer fund-raiser coming to Maverick
Stadium next month
Survivor Jean Coulter said she
hopes others can benefit from Relay for Life, founded in 1985.
By Marisa
Alvarado
Contributor to The Shorthorn
In April 1995, Jean Coulter discovered
she was carrying a two-pound cancerous tumor in her kidney. Five
days later, she went into surgery.
“You don’t wait around when it’s cancer,” said
Coulter, an administrative assistant in the Department of Communications.
The operation saved Coulter’s life. She said she was lucky
that health insurance provided by the university covered the expenses.
Many victims nationwide are not as fortunate to have those kind
of financial resources.
She’s hoping others can benefit from Relay for Life, a fund-raising
event for the American Cancer Society founded in 1985, coming to
campus next month.
Lori Soderbergh, American Cancer Society communications director,
said last year’s relay raised $243 million nationwide. Money
goes toward cancer research, advocacy, education and patient services
including rides to treatment, help in acquiring wigs and prosthetics
and funding for support groups.
Coulter has participated in the Relay for Life since 1997 with her
cancer support group “Dialogue.” She said the cause means
a lot to her, not only because of her own experience with the disease,
but because her mother, father and brother all died from different
kinds of cancers.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t been
touched in some way by cancer,” she said. “I see it in
staff, faculty and even students more and more everyday, even in
our department.”
She added that students would be surprised at the amount of people
who have cancer.
“Unless someone’s going through chemo or something, you’re
not going to be able to look at them and tell they have it. You
just don’t know,” she said.
At least one member from each Relay for Life team must be walking
on the track at all times during the 12-hour event. Teams pitch
tents along the track and set up for the night. To keep participants
entertained during the evening, live music, games, contests and
other activities are provided. Also, the team with the most creative
theme wins an award.
Soderbergh said she encourages students to get involved by forming
teams or becoming captains. There is no minimum donation, but the
team registration fee is $50.
“You don’t have to donate $50 to help,” she said.
“If you give up $1 instead of buying a Coke or a pack of cigarettes,
it may be a small amount, but that small amount goes to make something
larger.”
Coulter said students don’t need to have any money to help
the cause.
“It doesn’t cost anything to just show up,” she said.
Kim Malone, assistant income development director for the American
Cancer Society, said there are 40 teams signed up for the event
so far, and six of them are student teams from the university. She
said the registration turnout from the university is a good start,
but she would like to see more students get involved.
“It lets the community know that the students care about the
community they live in,” Malone said.
One of the most emotional parts of the event is the Luminaria, Coulter
said. Participants are given an opportunity to buy a candle for
$10 that are lit before sundown around the walking track. Family
members often purchase the candles in memory of a loved one who
died of cancer or to honor of a cancer survivor.
Coulter said her support group will be at the event with its banner
to raise awareness for support groups.
“No one knows we’re there if they need someone to talk
to,” she said. “Support is a big part of the recovery
process.”
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