The fight against cancer is prevailing around the world, and the Plattsburgh State Colleges Against Cancer club is leading their own part of it.
CAC is a nationwide program designed and run by college students hoping to one day get rid of cancer. The goal of these clubs is to work with the American Cancer Society and implement its programs onto campus, which is exactly what CAC is doing.
“Our mission is to raise awareness about all cancers,” Alexandria D’Alo, club president and childhood and special education graduate student, said.
CAC spends all year raising both awareness and money for the ACS, a national health organization consisting of volunteers. They work with a local ACS staff partner for help planning events, but the bulk of the job falls on the club members. The club, which feels like a family according to D’Alo, is always eager to take on the work.
“Everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another,” D’Alo said. “Everyone wants that to go away.”
Some of CAC’s work throughout the year includes fundraisers both on and off campus, “Pink Week” in October to support breast cancer awareness, the Great American Smokeout in November to support lung cancer awareness, cooking dinners for families of cancer patients in the Hope Lodge in Burlington and Relay for Life in April.
The majority of the money raised through events and fundraising goes right back to ACS programs, cancer research and putting on other cancer awareness events. Last year, CAC fundraised more than $40,000 total.
This year’s Relay for Life will take place Friday, Apr. 3 in the PSU Field House. It has already taken almost a full year of planning. As soon as one Relay for Life ends, the club promptly chooses a date and books the Field House for next year.
“In the fall, we brainstorm ideas, and then put it in action in the spring,” D’Alo said
The event will feature various singers, dancers, games, raffles, food and more. Registration is available at relayforlife.org/sunyplattsburghny.
Aside from all the events and fundraisers, club members feel that CAC is a great thing to be a part of, and they encourage others to join. D’Alo stresses that everyone in the club feels like a family because they are all there for the same reasons.
CAC works to inform the campus and community about the different types of cancer and ACS. They hope to raise as much money as possible and to help put an end to cancer one day. It is a never ending goal they are always working towards.
“Because the cancer season never ends,” D’Alo said.
Email Kristina Watrobski at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
