| When the starting gun of the Rex E. Lee Memorial Run for Cancer Research fires at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14th, many of the expected 1500 participants will be running not only for themselves, but also in honor of someone who has battled cancer. The Rex Lee Run, now in it's sixth year, has become one of the largest student-run traditions on the Brigham Young University campus, and all proceeds go directly to cancer research. Runners look forward to a good time, awards in each race category, free massages and food after the race, and the opportunity to win one of the many prizes in the annual drawing (this year's grand prize is tickets for two to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies). "It's a very fun and festive atmosphere" says Rob Peterson, vice president of BYU's student Cancer Awareness Group, "but we |
are also excited to be taking it a step further with the Honor a Cancer Fighter Campaign, which gives people the opportunity to show their support for the real fighters in this war - the cancer victims or survivors themselves." Participants in the race are given the opportunity to wear a small placard bearing a name of a cancer fighter, either someone they themselves know, or a name submitted by a member of the community. A five dollar donation is requested for each name honored, and the placard is returned to the donor after the race as a keepsake. The "Honor a Cancer Fighter" campaign was begun last year by Dr. Daniel Simmons, director of BYU's Cancer Research Center, and his wife, after they saw a similar process taking place at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Run in Washington D.C. "We were very moved to |
see so many people honoring those who had fought this disease, and felt that it was an idea which would be embraced by the people of this community," remarks Dr. Simmons. Simmons wife, Trudy, who lost her father to cancer in 1997, agrees, and says that they were overwhelmed by the response upon launching the campaign last year. "We were very gratified to hear from so many people. Many of them voluntarily included notes telling of their dealings with cancer, either their own or a loved one's, and it was very moving to hear people's stories. I think it somehow makes one feel less alone to know that others are having similar experiences." Those desiring to submit a name to be honored should click here or call the BYU Cancer Research Center at 801-422-3913. |
