Members of the Holy Cross Community Lace Up Sneakers to Find a Cure

WORCESTER, Mass. – Students, faculty, and staff from the College of the Holy Cross will join thousands of people from Central Massachusetts on Sun., Sept. 26 for the 12th annual Walk to Cure Cancer.

The College is a flagship sponsor of this unique fundraising event, which over the years has raised millions of dollars to support cutting-edge cancer research and build the UMass Memorial Cancer Center, the world class research center in Worcester.

Last year, nearly 300 students, faculty, and staff from Holy Cross participated in the walk and raised approximately $20,000. This year, the College hopes to exceed those records.

Many in the Holy Cross community are already gearing up for this year’s walk.

“Our department has seen first-hand the impact of cancer in the lives of our colleagues. We directed our desire to help towards the walk and have been walking as a team for several years with our families and students,” said Nancy Baldiga, associate professor of accounting and class dean.

Kathy Kiel, associate professor of economics, who first participated in 2006, shortly before receiving her own cancer diagnosis, added, “As a survivor it’s extremely moving to see the large number of people all helping out.  Words cannot express my gratitude to all the walkers.”

The Walk to Cure Cancer begins and ends at UMass Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, and follows a five-mile (or optional one-mile) loop around Lake Quinsigamond. Every Holy Cross walker will receive a purple T-shirt, with space on the back to write the name of the person for whom they’re walking.

Holy Cross participants will meet on campus the day of the walk (Sunday, Sept. 26) from 10-10:30 a.m. in the Hogan Main Lobby (3rd floor).  Pledge sheets and money will be collected, and t-shirts will be distributed. Bus service to and from UMass Medical School will be provided the morning of the walk, leaving from Hogan promptly at 10:45 a.m. A group photo of all Holy Cross participants will be taken upon arrival at the walk, at 11 a.m. Meet in the parking lot across Plantation St. from UMass (look for the purple balloons!).

Holy Cross participants providing their own transportation to UMass on the day of the walk can register with pledge sheets and donations, and receive a T-shirt at the Hogan first floor lobby table on Wednesday, Sept. 22 and Friday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Walker Registration Forms and Sponsor Sign Up Sheets are available in displays at Cool Beans, Crossroads, and other locations throughout Hogan. They are also available online.

If you’re not available to walk, but would still like to participate, Holy Cross needs help with set-up, T-shirts, collecting registration forms, and other logistics at Hogan the Sunday morning of the Walk. Please contact Elizabeth Rice to volunteer or if you have any questions.

For more information about the walk visit www.walktocurecancer.com.

Another opportunity to support cancer research will be available to the campus community through the efforts of the Student Government Association.  Faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Relay for Life, a 24-hour walk-a-thon from 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24 to 5 pm. on Saturday, Sept. 25 to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  Participants can form relay teams of 4 – 5 people.