Students participate in cancer fundraiser

Courtesy of Mykel Kochenderfer

Palo Alto’s first Relay for Life, a team fundraiser to support the efforts of the American Cancer Society in the area, was held this weekend. Over 300 Stanford students, including these from Cedro, participated in the event.

Over 300 Stanford students participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, an 18-hour, overnight team event at Gunn High School to fight cancer.

The relay — which is in its first year in Palo Alto — is designed to raise community awareness about cancer and money to support cancer research in the area. Students and community members organized teams of 10 to 20 members to collect contributions prior to the event. The relay itself was a celebration to commemorate the end of the fundraising, in which teams pitched tents on the high school’s football field and members took turns walking or running around the track.

A ceremony with luminaria lights was also held on Friday night to honor cancer survivors or remember those who have died from the disease. Cancer survivors were invited to take the first lap.

In all, 30 teams raised a combined total of over $64,500.

“We anticipated having 10 teams initially,” said sophomore Jonathan Olsen, Stanford liaison to the American Cancer Society and chair of team recruitment. “What we got exceeded our wildest expectations . . . This is huge.”

Olsen explained that the initial goal was to raise $40,000. He and other Stanford students began planning the event in early November.

Mykel Kochenderfer, a coterminal student in computer science, and his wife, Mary Anne Kochenderfer, a coterminal student in education, played a large role in the organization of the event.

Mykel Kochenderfer served as co-chair of the relay, while Mary Anne Kochenderfer — a cancer survivor — is a national member of Colleges Against Cancer.

“[The relay] was way more successful than anticipated,” Mykel Kochenderfer said.

Many of those involved in the relay attributed its success to a positive response from Stanford students.

“We’ve been really impressed with all the Stanford support . . . especially the [Stanford] Band. They came in the morning. That was awesome,” said senior Rachel Scarlett-Trotter, entertainment coordinator.

Several dormitories, including Junipero, Twain and Cedro. and several athletic teams all sent groups.

Stanford gymnasts also participated, calling themselves “Cartwheels for Cancer.” The fencing team was also in attendance to honor a teammate, senior Felix Reichling, who is a cancer survivor. They called themselves “Fighting for Felix.”

Sophomore Brandis Belt, a Twain resident, explained her motivation for participating.

“[The American Cancer Society] is the biggest non-profit organization in the world,” Belt said. “I figured, if it’s coming to Palo Alto, I better take advantage of the opportunity to join in.”

Belt also noted that the event hits close to home for her: one of her high school friends died of cancer senior year.

Junipero freshman Rachel Cook said that “we’ve been trying to look for community service opportunities, and a lot of people in our dorm have been touched by cancer,” Cook said.

“We’re all a little tired, but it’s been fun,” she continued.

Eight companies and organizations from Phillips to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk sponsored the event as a whole. Compadre’s Restaurant also sponsored a dinner for cancer survivors.

Senior Jeannie Ensign-Lewis gave the closing remarks on Saturday.

“Adversity either makes people bitter or it makes people soft and kind and allows them to come together,” Ensign-Lewis said. “This is an example of the latter.”