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Student organizers of Reinhardt College’s
Patricia A. Burris Walk Against Breast Cancer raised
approximately $8000 during the event, thus surpassing their
goal. The all-night event was held on the Waleska, Ga., campus
March 23-24. In the three-year history of the walk, the effort
has raised more than $26,000 for cancer research.
Organized this year by the Reinhardt Breast
Cancer Committee and the College’s cheerleading squad, the walk
originated in 2005 as a service project among Reinhardt student
organizations. The proceeds go to Emory University Hospital’s
Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta.
The annual event is named for a former
student’s mother who passed away after battling breast cancer.
Now an alumna, Jessica Burris works in Reinhardt’s admissions
office and remains a passionate supporter of the event.
Katie Carmichael, a Reinhardt senior middle
grades education major from Roswell, Ga., co-chaired the walk
for the second year. Along with co-chair and fellow cheerleader
Carrie Mao, they led a committee of enthusiastic students at the
College.
“I’ve had two grandparents with cancer, one
breast cancer and one prostate cancer,” Carmichael said. “Also,
my godmother, who recently passed last May, she had breast
cancer, so I just have a real personal connection with it.”
The event, which began at 6 p.m. Friday and
concluded Saturday at 9 a.m., included nine teams and
approximately 160 participants. The walk itself was a 15-hour
relay with teams of 6-10 people walking around the clock. Teams
of students, faculty and staff collected donations but they also
sold items, from raffle tickets, snacks and T-shirts to water
bottles and pink roses, to raise money. The walkers were treated
to live music, contests, awards, prizes and an indoor cinema.
“This year, we had a lot more activities to
do,” Carmichael said. “Personally, I had more fun this year. We
grilled hamburgers and hot dogs outside and just had a fun time.
“In a couple of weeks, the committee is
going down to Emory because the doctors and all the research
people want to thank us and show us the research facility.” |
