Samantha Harris

Professor Ruth
Journalism 1
Final Article
It was a beautiful sunny day in August when Kristin Young heard
some news that changed her life.
When Kristin was 24, she and her fiance were in Virginia on
vacation when she received a call from her doctor saying that she
has been diagnosed with cancer.
I was just going for my annual checkup and this is what I had to
hear, said Young.
Kristin Young, a specialist who works for American Cancer
Society (ACS), said that when she was diagnosed with cervical
cancer, she relied a lot on ACS to help her get through it.
I kept this secret from my mother for nine years. At the Relay for
Life event held in my area Sullivan County last year, I told her for
the first time ever that I had cervical cancer. She was so mad,
laughed Young.
Young said she did not want her mother to worry about her, and
figured that she could figure out a solution herself.
Kristin walked the track with pride this Saturday at the Relay for
Life event held at SUNY New Paltz. This marks her ninth year in
remission.

Relay for life is an organization composed of employees, and
volunteers who are apart of cancer society help raise money toward
cancer research, and it has become a worldwide event. At each
event, members of the community create teams to raise money for
someone who has either passed, or who is a survivor.
Disney was the theme for Relay for Life at SUNY New Paltz this
past Saturday.
By 10AM there was a line out the door of the Elting Gym where
the event took place.
Throughout the day, there were games that incorporated Disney
characters, and a DJ that played Disney songs as well. Along with
the Disney themed music playing throughout the gym, there were
blow up pictures of Disney princesses, and a magician walking
around doing tricks with the audience.
I am amazingly astonished at the amount of people who came to
our event. At first, I was a little shaken up thinking no one would
come [due to the prediction of the rain], but afterwards, I was
really happy with the turn out, said Danielle Bolognini a
sophomore at SUNY New Paltz.
Ben Abrams, a third-year student at SUNY New Paltz, was there
to support his friend Simon who passed away because of Brain
Cancer. He is also Co-Chair of Relay for Life on campus, and has
been involved as a committee member for the last three years.
I relay because it is such a great cause and all the money raised
goes straight to helping cancer patients, and helping doctors find a
cure, said Abrams.


According to Young, in the last year American Cancer Society
received over $350 million. Since 1985, ACS has made over $4
billion dollars due to the amount of donations received since it
began.
Abrams said that last year the committee raised $35,000 toward
cancer research, and this year they raised over $20,000. Due to the
amount of money that we have raised over the years, SUNY New
Paltz is an official sponsor.
Some relays are not recognized through ACS. In order to be
recognized as a relay that is fully acknowledged by many, we
needed to raise a certain amount of money, said Abrams.
Additional activities during the day included a presentation by
Fran Capo, the fastest speaking woman in the book of world
records, performances by three Acapella groups on campus, a DJ,
Zumba workshops, and of course food, which, that was delivered
every few hours.
Sarah Sobel, an alumni from SUNY New Paltz who now works as
a specialist-employee herself for ACS, said that all the activities
were breathtaking, but the one part that always stays with her is the
Luminaria ceremony.
The Luminaria ceremony is when people who come to the event
stand in a circle, and take time to remember those who have
passed.
If you are here to remember a son, or daughter please crack the
glowstick now, said Steven Blum a fourth-year at SUNY New
Paltz.
During the Lumanaria, attendees come together in a circle and
participated in a five-minute long montage of family members, and
friends who have passed and then the lighting of the bags.
The room was filled with light surrounded by people who have so
much emotion. It was truly one of the most moving moments,
said Stephanie Rizzotto a third-year student at SUNY New Paltz.
Young enforces that everyone should go for their annual checkups.
She said that because of her cancer scare she will now attend
annual checkups more than once a year.
Relay for life is recognized worldwide. Many relay for various
reasons, and each donation helps ACS become one step closer to
finding the cure for cancer.
Hopefully one day that cure will be found, and those who have
been affected either directly, or indirectly will no longer have to
suffer.

I relay so I do not have to keep any secrets anymore, said
Kristin Young.