Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are teaming up in the fight against breast cancer by participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on May 12.
“We have raised just over $1,500 and we expect to reach our goal of $2,500 through this week’s fundraiser and the pink geranium sale later this month,” said Janet Lange, the team captain and executive director of continuing education and professional development.
The team currently has around 40 members and they are encouraging members of the Bradley community to join.
“We need a great many Bradley students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to sign up for the Race for the Cure as runners, donors or Spirit Walkers,” said Lange.
This year’s Race for the Cure is on May 12; the same day as Bradley’s graduations ceremony. While many people will be unable to participate due to conflicts with graduation, Lange hopes people will join the team anyways.
“I hope that those who are unable to participate will continue to support Race for the Cure by being a Spirit Walker,” she said. “They will pay the entry fee and receive a t-shirt, and they will be with us in spirit,”
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 225,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2012 and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women.
“There are few of us who have not been affected by breast cancer,” said Lange. “We may have a sister, mother, aunt or friend who is a survivor, and many of our Bradley faculty and staff members, including President Glasser, are breast cancer survivors.”
Lange, who is the team captain, said she has a personal stake in supporting breast cancer research.
”I lost one of my closest friends to breast cancer at a very young age,” she said. “I participate every year in her memory, and I hope that Bradley will come out strong this year for all the breast cancer survivors.”
While much of the support for the team comes from alumni, faculty and staff, the team relies on support from students as well.
“The STARS in the Admissions office will be helping us with a project later this month, when the student visits are less frequent,” said Lange. “Chi Omega is also interested in getting involved because breast cancer funding is one of the chapter’s charities.”
To fundraise, the team is having a pink geranium sale to raise money for the cause. The preorder form can be found on their website, www.bradley.edu/teambradley.
The flowers will be available May 9, before Mother’s Day. Extra plants will also be available for day-of sales.