SANDRENE HAMILTON
Special to The Leader
Relay for Life took place this past Saturday, March 23, in Steele Hall. With the help of Fredonia students and the community, $14,685.20 was raised for the American Cancer Society.
Professor Michael Igoe, a guest speaker at the event, said that it was inspiring for him to see Fredonia’s campus getting behind the cause.
“A lot of students are here for various reasons,” he said. “But it really means so much to cancer survivors and people who’ve lost a loved one to see that other people care. So to me as a cancer survivor, it’s very, very encouraging.”
Igoe discovered he had cancer in 2003. His speech discussed the unpredictability of cancer and thanked everyone for coming out to relay. Igoe also said that students and community members being at the event meant something not just for the organization, but for people who have survived cancer.
“I think we all have someone we know or someone we love that have cancer. But I think what happened to me is what happened to many others. You just can’t believe when you are told you are the person who has it,” Igoe said. “Fortunately, because my cancer was diagnosed early, I got treated right away. I got surgery and I’m around to talk to you today.”
2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sunday morning symbolized the coming of the end of treatment for cancer patients. During the brief informational portion of the event, facts about cancer were included. These facts stated that cancer does not discriminate, can affect anyone and one in three women and one in two men will be diagnosed with the disease.
Statistics were included, one of which was that this year alone, more than 1.7 million U.S. citizens will be diagnosed with cancer and 600 thousand will die from the disease.
Dawn Wood, one of the survivors, said that she was excited to see how the college students came out.
“I think that a lot of it hits home with many of them, for many of their families. To just see them come out and use their time and just encourage people, I think that’s great on their behalf. It just makes me very happy,” Wood said.
Wood enjoyed the whole atmosphere, the whole day and putting cancer in its place. Her mother, Grace, who was also at the event, said that she was mostly excited for the survivor’s walk this year. It was her first one. “She just beat ovarian cancer. I’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer and we’re going to beat cancer’s butt,” Wood said.
Dana Vertuccio, a SUNY Fredonia student, said that she likes when they have survivors come who talk about their experience. She also likes to see how and why everybody is at the event and who they relay for.
Caitlin Sweet, another Fredonia student, said she was looking forward to seeing a lot of new faces, meeting new people, just spreading awareness and having fun.
For more information on how to get involved with the American Cancer Society or Relay for Life, please visit
www.cancer.org.