Cornell College Relay For Life places second in the nation

Cornell College’s 2012 Relay For Life was second in the nation and first in the Midwest Division for youth events.  The event raised nearly $42,000.  Cornell has received an award five out of the last six years, but has not placed second in the nation since 2009.

The American Cancer Society recently presented Cornell’s chapter of Colleges Against Cancer a national per capita Relay For Life award at the Midwest Division Leadership Summit held in Bloomington, Minn.

Additionally, Jeff Meeker received the first-place award in the Midwest Division for raising $7,850, the top individual fundraising amount for a college event.

Andrew Kinn ’12 and Taylor Koch ’12 served as co-coordinators of the 2012 event.  This year’s co-coordinators are sophomores Molly Johnson and Mark Lerner.  The event will take place April 19 and 20, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the Small Multi-Sport Center. Registration for teams is now open at www.relayforlife.org/cornell.

Colleges Against Cancer is part of Cornell’s Civic Engagement Office.  The group organizes students, faculty, staff, and the community to help raise awareness and funds in association with the American Cancer Society.  This includes coordinating the annual Relay for Life event, as well as other events both on campus and in the community.

As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.6 billion, the American Cancer Society turns what is known about cancer into what the organization does. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year.