Warriors Fight Back with Relay for Life

Posted by: admin on March 7, 2016, No Comments

This year, about two million individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer. Two million mothers, fathers, siblings and close friends will be forced to fight a battle that takes nearly 500,000 lives each year. Many East Stroudsburg University (ESU) students have suffered watching loved ones grapple with the deadly disease. This April, ESU will be hosting its annual Relay for Life Walk to help raise funding for cancer research and give individuals a better chance at beating their diagnoses.

Three years ago, Ashley Sudol’s mother had a difficult conversation with her doctor. She was told that she had lung cancer.

“I received a phone call from my father,” Sudol said. “He told me that my mom had a massive heart attack and that she might not make it.”

The ESU junior spent as much time as possible with her mother during her last days on earth, hoping for a miracle. On March 22 2013, at 48 years old, her mother passed away peacefully.

“This event can give other patients access to more research, more hope,” she said.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate against age. Emily Creveling, a senior and Relay for Life coordinator for Colleges against Cancer, lost her best friend, Carissa, to adrenal gland cancer. After her diagnosis, Carissa fought her disease at St. Jude’s Hospital in Tennessee. She died a year short of her 18th birthday.

“Carissa lit up an entire room with her smile,” said Creveling. “She is the reason I relay.”

Marcus Narcisse, a sophomore, relays for the most important survivor in his life. His mother won the battle after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.

“It’s a feeling that I don’t wish upon anybody,” said Narcisse. “It’s one of those things that you have to just sit there and fight,” he said.

On Friday, April 15, ESU students are joining the fight with their annual Relay for Life event, which will be held at 7 p.m. in Kohler Fieldhouse. For 12 hours, participants will walk, take pictures and participate in games.

“It’s really exciting. We are going to have food and a mechanical shark,” said Creveling. “Teams should dress up as Disney characters to go along with our theme,” she said.

Colleges against Cancer is inviting everyone to participate to help reach its goal of 10,000 dollars. Teams of two or more can register with Emily Creveling.

“It costs 10 dollars per person to register — your contributions are going towards an amazing cause,” she said.

For more information on registering, feel free to contact Creveling at ecreveling@live.esu.edu.