For millions of people across the United States, cancer is a daily stressor and constant fight, but it is a battle often overlooked. For this reason, Winona State University Colleges Against Cancer club hosted the Winona County Relay for Life on Friday, April 10. The event consisted of a luminaria ceremony for lives in the community who faced cancer, personal stories from cancer survivors and tabling events to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.
Colleges Against Cancer is an organization that works to spread awareness for the fight against cancer, and work with the American Cancer Society to raise money for families who are struggling to keep up with medical bills from consultations and treatments, as well as for cancer research. The club meets about once a month in the first semester, and every other week to every week leading up to the annual event.
The club is a great way for students to earn volunteer hours and actively work towards making an impact on a prevalent issue in the world. At the start of the second semester, the club begins its preparations, breaking into teams with specific missions to make the event possible.
Jorvik Jensen, vice president and treasurer of the club was in charge of “bringing the people” and “funding the mission.” He worked to talk to businesses in Winona for prize donations, hang up posters downtown and promote the event around campus. “We’ve started working on this since January, so it can be kind of hard after working on something for four months to keep the goal in mind,” Jensen says, so a week before the event they will put up informational signs about cancer and the research around it. “It really just gets in your mind that this is what all the work’s led up to.”
Nora Thaler, a first-year student who has personal ties to the cause, says that the event is very important for those who are struggling to know that they are supported and to raise awareness. “You don’t really think about it, until it happens to you or to someone you love,” Thaler says.
The event gave people in the community an opportunity to share their stories, the hard times and the good times, to rally support for the cause. The event had great turn out, along with strong community engagement. Downtown Winona businesses such as Miya, Toppers and QDOBA provided prizes to be won from the silent auction and minute-to-win-it games set up at different tables. Independent donors also gifted prize baskets and monetary donations. By the end of the fundraiser, WSU Colleges Against Cancer raised over $2,000, showing the great amount of hard work put forth by the club members, and generosity from the community.
The club encourages students to keep an eye out for their table at the Organization Fair, and to take steps towards fighting cancer and supporting those who struggle in the community. The event occurs annually, so those who are interested should keep an eye out for the signs around campus. “Everyone’s welcome,” Jensen assures, “It’s just a great way, even if you don’t have cancer, to support people that do.”
