B-port glows for cancer research

For many people, the start of October marks the beginning of fall. For many, October also represents another time — breast cancer awareness month.

In the United States, one in every eight women is expected to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer sometime in her life.

 This alarming statistic, and many others, has inspired students at the College at Brockport to fight back against the disease that affects both men and women.

The college’s Health Science Club will be holding its second Glow Run for Boobies event, Wednesday Oct. 24 to raise money to combat this disease.

The run, which consists of two laps around campus, will start at 10:00 p.m. in the campus mall area.

John Buchser, a senior at the college and the president of the Health Science club, said runners will be given glow sticks to complete the run with.

“Around 300 to 500 glow sticks were ordered and we will give them out before the run starts,” Buchser said. “The run is similar to last year’s, but we also wanted to make it even bigger and better.”

Last year’s event attracted more than 200 participants, something Buchser said he was not expecting. The program also won Program of the Year for 2011.

Clubs and organizations can be nominated annually for the award that is given through Brockport Student Government (BSG).

“I was thrilled that we won the award for two main reasons,” Buchser said. “To thank the many services on campus that supported the Glow Run and the second to thank everyone who came out and donated. It takes a lot to host a successful event and it would not have happened if it wasn’t for collaboration around campus.”

The Health Science club was able to raise $700 at the first run, which went to the American Cancer Society.

“Last year we didn’t really know what to expect,” Buchser said. “It was the first year we did the run and it was rainy and cold, but the outcome blew any expectations I had out of the water.”

For this year’s event, the group said it hopes to break $1,000 in donations.

The donations come from a $3 registration and donation fee from runners looking to participate. They are also selling $10 T-shirts.

The group also spent the week prior to the run tabling in the Union.  
As of Monday, Oct. 24 the group raised $750. It hopes to accomplish the donation goal by the time the event ends on Wednesday.

Buchser said he expects a large turnout at this year’s run, including many of Brockport’s athletic teams and recognized Greek organizations.

“We had a lot of sport teams and fraternities and sororities participate last year,” he said. “I know a lot of them plan to come back this year.”

At the event there will also be different competitions participants can win, such as “biggest contribution from a single group” and the “most spirited.”

Colleges Against Cancer, Circle K and Cancer Doesn’t Fly with Eagles will also be at the event as volunteers. Buchser said the members from these organizations will be the ones to judge the most spirited contest.

“Glow Run is a unique event,” Buchser said. “The people that [sic] participated last year all say that this was a special event. It’s different and it fits into the college atmosphere and raises money for a great cause.”

 

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