Making Great Things Happen:
Kappa Deltas Walk to Fight Cancer
From colorful banners set against bright skies to the soft glow of candles at dusk; from the burst of cheers at the dunking booth to the quiet reflection of individual walkers, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a myriad of events and emotions. It also is the world’s largest movement to help fight cancer, joined by Kappa Deltas from across the country who participate in events in their communities and on their college campuses.
Delta Psi chapter members proudly display their KD letters at the Relay For Life event held at the University of West Georgia.
Relay for Life began in 1985 with one man’s idea and initiative. Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash., wanted to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and show support for his patients. With more than 300 of his friends and family cheering him on and providing donations, Dr. Klatt logged 83 miles around a track during a 24-hour period. His single effort raised $27,000 and jumpstarted the first Relay event in 1986. Today, more than 3.5 million people in the U.S. and 20 foreign countries participate in their communities’ annual events, making great things happen in ways that are immeasurable.
The benefits of participating in Relay are many. In addition to raising money for cancer research, Relay unites communities in a common effort and provides support for those whose lives have been touched by cancer. The American Cancer Society describes it this way: “Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.”
Maggie Siegel, a cancer patient and 3-year-old daughter of chapter advisor Leslie Siegel, provides Beta Psi-Arizona State KDs with a special incentive to participate in Relay For Life.
Priscilla Tillner, Kappa Delta’s information technology manager, has been involved with Relay For Life since 2000, and this year she served as co-chairman for the Collierville, Tenn., event and chairman of her team of walkers. For several months in advance of the event, she recruited teams, visited with local businesses to encourage participation with teams and donations, and helped run the team captains’ meetings. With her own team, she recruited members, brainstormed fundraising ideas, motivated team members, and kept track of the monies raised.
Kappa Delta’s information technology manager, Priscilla Tillner, serves as co-chairman of the Collierville, Tenn., Relay For Life and captain of the Hemphill Walkers who participated in honor of her aunt, Patti Hemphill. Priscilla’s teammates include her daughters, Lane, at left, and Ruth Ann. The girls made and sold home-baked cakes to help raise funds.
Relay is a 24-hour event, emphasizing that cancer never sleeps, but as co-chairman, Priscilla was on-site by 9 a.m., nine hours before starting time. Her day was full, meeting with the fire and police departments, checking with the teams who came in early to set up their campsites, and generally ensuring that the event would run smoothly. “It was a long, long day, but for such a good cause that I didn't really think about being so tired and hot.”
Priscilla signed up for her first Relay because a friend was on the committee and asked for help. She has continued to stay involved, she says, “because so many people, including close friends and family members, have been affected by this horrible disease, and I want to do whatever I can to raise awareness and funds.” Priscilla walked in honor of her aunt, who is fighting breast cancer, and in memory of her step-niece who died last year at age 11 from cancer.
Cancer survivors walk a victory lap during Relay For Life at Arizona State University.
A tradition at every Relay event is the luminaria ceremony during which participants walk a lap in silence and almost-darkness around the track rimmed with luminaries. Each sack bears the name of a person touched by cancer. Relay events also include the survivor’s lap that welcomes all cancer survivors onto the track to celebrate their lives and the strides made against cancer. It sets the tone for the evening: motivating, purposeful and above all, joyous.
Beta Psi chapter members keep up the KD spirit during the 24-hour Relay For Life at Arizona State University.
Relay events are as diverse as the communities in which they are held. Priscilla’s event included a little something for everyone: a boxcar race, kickball, bunco, cooking demonstrations, a mock beauty pageant with men dressed as women, a digital scavenger hunt and a peaceful sunrise service.
Participating in Relay For Life at Colorado State University are Phi Epsilon members, from left, Nichole Jones, Emily Fenton Avila, Jamie Perkins and Betsey Haight.
At Colorado State University where Phi Epsilon chapter participated, Relay was a giant birthday party complete with festive balloons, banners and birthday cake – and the serious goal of helping people see more birthdays. KD’s team captain, Betsey Haight, says, “Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer. Many of the girls in our sorority, including myself, have parents or grandparents who have battled cancer.” Betsey walked in memory of her mother who passed away from ovarian cancer when Betsey was a sophomore in high school. She is happy to report that at the end of the event, Kappa Delta went home with the award for raising the most money - $4,195!
Delta Psi Taylor Southerland works at KD’s face-painting booth to help raise funds during Relay For Life at the University of West Georgia.
From left, Kelsey Mitchell and Breanna Ingle, Delta Psi-West Georgia, are on the receiving end of the pie-throwing booth, which raised money for Relay For Life
Kappa Delta’s team at Arizona State University also raised the most funds of any group – more than $17,000 out of the total $115,000 raised during the Relay event that was held at ASU’s Sun Angel stadium. Participating in her third Relay, Beta Psi’s team captain, Amanda Gornet, raised $4,000, the highest individual amount among her team.
Money aside, having a Kappa Delta on her team made Priscilla’s Relay experience even better. She and Terri Dowdle Buynar, Delta Kappa-Arkansas State, have been teammates for years. Priscilla says, “Terri is my support system for Relay, helping me with whatever I need, helping with our team while I do the committee stuff, and being the best friend a person could want. I was so glad to get to have her there all night because she kept me going - and we got the opportunity to talk lots and lots!” – Sherry Egan Anderson, KD Connect editor