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Student cancer survivors plan Relay For Life |
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Tuesday, 24 April 2007 |
by DYLAN CLAYTON
News Reporter
At age 6, Amber M. Clawson, a senior public relations major, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.
Childhood Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoblastic Lymphoma is a form of cancer that forms in the lymph system, part of the immune system.
“I
had a tumor in my chest and jaw,” Clawson said. “I had two and a half
years of chemotherapy. When I was diagnosed, there was a fifty-fifty
chance.”
Since the third grade, Clawson has participated in Relay For Life, a national fundraiser through the American Cancer Society.
When presented with the opportunity to help start a Relay For Life on
the Appalachian State University campus, she jumped at the chance.
At Relay For Life, teams donate money to participate and one member of each team must walk for the duration of the event.
Appalachian’s Relay For Life was scheduled from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday.
Appalachian Ambassadors participated as a team this year and donated $560.
“We participated last year and really enjoyed it, so decided to do it
again,” Allison E. Zastrow, a junior psychology major, said. “Also, Amber Clawson is one our members.”
Members of Sigma Kappa sorority also participated to show support for one of their own.
Megan L. Hughes, a senior social work major, was diagnosed with melanoma in July 2006.
After extensive surgery, doctors removed 12 lymph nodes from Hughes and she is now cancer free.
Because of her battle with cancer, she decided to help lead Relay For Life as the survivorship chair and luminary chair.
“I’ve always done Relay for Life, but never led it. I wanted to speak out and make people aware,” Hughes said.
Jenna L. McElroy, a senior physical education major and Sigma Kappa member, wanted to show support for Hughes.
“It’s a cause close to our hearts, because of [Megan],” McElroy said.
A group of about 10 friends from Gardner Residence Hall, including
Chelsea J. Baldwin, a sophomore social work major, formed their own
Relay For Life team.
“It’s a good cause. I’m excited about it,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin’s team came up with several fundraising ideas for the night including a game where the
participants had to break a Nalgene to win a $15 gift certificate to Mast General Store.
This year, about 24 teams and 240 students raised $16,000 for the American Cancer Society.
For Clawson, Relay For Life presents an opportunity for her to give back.
When she underwent her treatment for cancer, many of the medications were experimental.
“Because of people like these relayers here today, the experimental drugs that saved my life were invented,” Clawson said.
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