April 28, 2011
Fighting back: College’s Relay for Life raises more than $60,000
This year’s campaign to raise money for the American Cancer Society was one of the nation’s most successful and brought in more money and had more participants than ever before at the College.
On a Friday night, almost 500 students, faculty, staff, and friends spent the night in the ice rink helping to raise more than $60,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, a nationwide fundraising effort.
The College’s Relay team, in its fifth year, raised more money than ever before, exceeding their goal of $54,000 and last year’s total of $51,000. Lake Forest was in the top 20 for total money raised among colleges and universities, and the number of participants totals nearly a third of the College’s student population.
On campus, Allie Winkelman ’11 and Elyse Brey’12 co-chaired the 23-member committee that helped organize the activities.
“Relay is something that all student organizations, sports teams, individuals and faculty and staff can get behind,” says Winkelman, who also chaired last year’s event, “because most people have been personally impacted by cancer. And, once you can establish a personal connection with as many people as possible the more willing they are to help you.”
Forester Football’s impact
The football team was the top fundraising group, collecting more than $8,000 for the campaign.
“An amazing, heart-warming, and phenomenal push by our families, friends, and players,” Head Football Coach Jim Catanzaro wrote on his blog. “The Forester Family sent a message.”
The Forester football team was recently impacted by the devastating loss cancer can cause. In 2009, the team adopted Benny Watters, a four-year-old boy who had been diagnosed with a brain stem tumor. Benny frequently visited with the team, and Catanzaro often speaks of the impact Benny had on the team. This past September, Benny lost his battle. The team honored Benny during the ceremony, sharing their favorite memories and video clips of his visits with the Foresters.
“It was a great ‘all-nighter’ for our guys who celebrated in the spirit that Benny would have wanted them to, with video games, light saber wars, and smiles on their faces,” Catanzaro described.
Honoring “Ry”
Participants also honored Ry McCarthy ‘10, a former women’s hockey player who lost a courageous battle with cancer in July of 2009. As a kickoff event earlier the week, the College hosted the 2nd Annual Ry’s Run: A Fun Run in Memory of a Spirited Forester.
Winkelman has also received recognition for her efforts with Relay, and other leadership positions on campus. In November, the American Cancer Society awarded her the prestigious Distinguished Service Award in Youth, and she was also named the College’s recipient of the Lincoln Academy’s Student Laureate award.
