The Walk to Fight Cancer held by the non-profit organization “Keeping You, Me and Memories Alive” on Saturday, October 14 was a huge success. The event had around 200 participants and raised almost $19,000. The walk is in its seventh year and has raised a total of $120,000 for the families in the Plymouth area whose lives have been affected by cancer.
“The money raised at the walk each year is a way for the Cancer Walk team to help local families around the Plymouth area with things like gas cards for trips to and from doctors appointments and money for food and medication,” said Julie-Ann Whitney, the PSU student representative for “Keeping You, Me and Memories Alive.”
We have also purchased things like video cameras for cancer patients losing their battle with the disease, and we give out book awards each year to PSU students who have been affected by cancer in some way,” she said.
The walk took place at the PSU P.E. center. Participants pledged money, or were sponsored to walk a certain distance around the 1/3-mile track.
“People walk as much or as little as they want,” said Whitney. “Some people walk for hours, some all day, others just once or twice around.” The teams that raised the most money were given $100 awards toward charities of their choice or fund raising accounts.
The week before the walk, “Keeping You, Me and Memories Alive” held a luminary making table in the HUB Pawsway. The luminaries are a way for PSU students and faculty, as well as members of the community to honor their loved ones who have lost their lives to cancer or who are fighting the battle. The tokens lined the track of the walk, and “one of our volunteers counted 340 luminaries,” said Whitney.
PSU student organizations played a large part in the success of the walk. PSU Anime Club sponsored pumpkin and face painting for the children of participants, and the Gaming Club also had kid-friendly entertainment. For more information regarding the Cancer Walk please e-mail info@MemoriesAlive.org