When Northwestern alumna Karyn Israel (Bienen ’83) was diagnosed with cancer in January 1991, she was in shock – she was only 30 years old, ate right and exercised.
“Cancer was so different back then,” she said. “I didn’t tell anybody because it was embarrassing and I would be viewed as being sickly.”
Israel said the first phone call she made was to the American Cancer Society.
Now, the graduate of the Bienen School of Music graduate program is about to celebrate her 20th anniversary of being cancer-free.
Students raised $137,086 for the ACS through Relay for Life of NU. This total is almost $20,000 more than last year, and more donations are expected until August, said the program’s co-chair Ryan Shannon. More students participated this year than ever before, the Weinberg senior said.
Sixty-five teams of students stayed up from 7 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday in Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Aquatic Center, 2311 Campus Drive, to raise money and awareness for cancer. One student from every team was supposed to walk on the track inside the gym throughout the night to signify that someone is always thinking about cancer, Israel said.
But not every team had members walking at all times. The Rainbow Alliance team played the board game Trivial Pursuit for most of the night instead of walking.
“Symbolically, walking is part of the event, but it is more important to have bodies and people here,” team captain and Medill sophomore Zach Wichter said.
Students kept themselves busy by jumping in a moon-bounce, playing “water pong,” competing in knock-out with the men’s basketball team and singing karaoke.
There were 858 students registered for the event, but fewer than 700 attended. About 300 students stayed until the closing ceremony, Shannon said.
The evening began with speeches from cancer survivor Meredith Siegall, men’s basketball coach Bill Carmody and Prof. Eric Weiss.
Performance groups Tonik Tap, Extreme Measures, X-Factors, Purple Haze, Treblemakers and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity performed.
Students said the most emotional event of the night was the Luminaria Ceremony, at which Israel spoke and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity sang to honor those who have succumbed to cancer.
“It was seriously the most powerful thing I’ve ever seen,” said Barbara Major, Weinberg sophomore and recruitment committee member.
Out of every dollar raised through Relay, 94 cents goes towards funding cancer research and programs such as wig fittings and free transportation for cancer patients to doctor appointments.
Major said Relay for Life provides both monetary and emotional outlets.
“Relay is an opportunity for people who have been touched by cancer to get together and celebrate,” Major said. “We’re not just going to sit back and be victims; we’re all in this together.”
