2008 Woodie Awards
Relay For Life heads into third straight year
Ian Paterson
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: News
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Having cancer is a life-changing experience, not just for the diagnosed, but also for all those in contact with that person. Every student at Southwest Baptist University has had a loved one either diagnosed or affected by this horrible disease. To put the harsh reality of the severity of cancer into perspective, sophomores Emily Shepard and Abby Priester are teaming up with SBU co-sponsors Director of Student Activities Zach Waters and American Cancer Society Staff Partner Kimberly McCracken to sponsor SBU's third annual Relay For Life.
While the city of Bolivar hosts its own annual Relay For Life, it is held in the summer months when most students are not able to help make a difference. So, April 29-30 SBU had their first Relay For Life, spearheaded by graduate and cancer survivor Kendra Dotson.
"People our age normally don't think about cancer," said Dotson in a 2004 interview. "You see older people, like grandparents, with it, so it was kind of a shock because we didn't expect it at all."
Dotson struggled through three months of chemotherapy treatments, which has (as of the 2004 interview) kept her cancer in complete remission. Dotson has since used her survival story to educate those who know little about the terrible reality brought on by cancer.
Last year, students raised over $15,000 in donations for cancer research. Participants and sponsors played games and engaged in activities such as a pie-eating contest, pantyhose-banana games, sumo wrestling, a twist dance competition and karaoke.
"Over 200 people attended the event," said senior Ashley Hall in a 2006 interview.
Senior Lauren Wynn, a volunteer for this year's Relay For Lie, echoes sentiments similar to Dotson's.
"I chose to get involved [with Relay For Life] because my two grandmothers have battled cancer and won their fight," said Wynn. "One of them had breast cancer and the other had jaw bone cancer."
Shepard and Priester, with the help of Wynn, hope to keep up the highly successful tradition of Relay For Life at SBU.
While the city of Bolivar hosts its own annual Relay For Life, it is held in the summer months when most students are not able to help make a difference. So, April 29-30 SBU had their first Relay For Life, spearheaded by graduate and cancer survivor Kendra Dotson.
"People our age normally don't think about cancer," said Dotson in a 2004 interview. "You see older people, like grandparents, with it, so it was kind of a shock because we didn't expect it at all."
Dotson struggled through three months of chemotherapy treatments, which has (as of the 2004 interview) kept her cancer in complete remission. Dotson has since used her survival story to educate those who know little about the terrible reality brought on by cancer.
Last year, students raised over $15,000 in donations for cancer research. Participants and sponsors played games and engaged in activities such as a pie-eating contest, pantyhose-banana games, sumo wrestling, a twist dance competition and karaoke.
"Over 200 people attended the event," said senior Ashley Hall in a 2006 interview.
Senior Lauren Wynn, a volunteer for this year's Relay For Lie, echoes sentiments similar to Dotson's.
"I chose to get involved [with Relay For Life] because my two grandmothers have battled cancer and won their fight," said Wynn. "One of them had breast cancer and the other had jaw bone cancer."
Shepard and Priester, with the help of Wynn, hope to keep up the highly successful tradition of Relay For Life at SBU.
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