In this issue
____________

VOICES photo and video contest!
Enter and win great prizes with your memorable Relay For Life photos and videos

Having cancer in college
Cancer survivor: Lindsay Ehrlich

Coaches vs. Cancer
Tom Izzo goes to Broadway while Indiana high school coaches try to beat fundraising records

Cancer research shows hope for the future
A recent study has shown a decrease in cancer incidence and mortality rates

Volunteer Q. & A.
Advocacy volunteer: Stacy Roznowski

Indiana Lobby Day
Volunteers talk with legislators to help laws get passed

Healthy weight: How important is it?
Take our quiz to find out
_____________

Our very own GLD YouTube channel!
Showcase the best of your GLD Relay events on YouTube!

VOICES in the kitchen
On the menu: Made in Heaven Strawberry Mousse

25th hour video
What would you do with an extra hour in your day?

GLO Grads
Kim Williams
Community Representative
Central Indiana Staff

Having cancer in college
Western Michigan University student Lindsay Ehrlich was diagnosed with cancer in college. During the fight for her life, she was forced to take a full time college course load to stay under her father’s insurance. Read Lindsay’s story below.

“Two weeks before my sophomore year at Western Michigan University I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I immediately dropped my classes at Western and moved home to Chicago to receive treatment. My father knew his insurance would drop me if I was not a full time student. So, I picked up the easiest full load at the closest community college 30 minutes away. 

Several weeks later my family and I realized that our plan to have me take classes at the community college was not going to work. I was scheduled for two major surgeries on my right lung that would leave me unable to drive to class for the remainder of the semester.  Once again I had to drop my classes.

I applied for short term disability, was denied, and dropped from my fathers insurance. Luckily my father was able to find and afford insurance from another insurance company. I received all the necessary treatments over the next nine months and am now a 2 year survivor.

I am so happy that because of the hard work of ACS CAN and the dedication of Michelle’s Family, Michelle’s Law has recently passed. No student will ever have to go through what we did during the fight for their lives. I know that there are many of you out there who are already ACS CAN members who fought for this law. I personally would like to thank you for supporting this issue that is so close to me, and has changed the future for those diagnosed with cancer in college.”

In October of 2008, former president George W. Bush signed critical legislation that protects full-time college students like Lindsay, from losing their health insurance in the event of a serious medical condition. Bush’s approval of Michelle’s Law (HR.2851), which would allow seriously ill college students to take up to 12 months medical leave from school without the risk of being dropped from a parent's health insurance plan, comes on the heels of unanimous support from Congress. Michelle’s law could benefit the estimated 2,400 college students who were diagnosed with cancer in 2008.

Michelle's Law is named for Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student diagnosed with colon cancer. Her family’s health insurance would not cover her if she was not a full-time student, so she was forced to take a full class schedule while undergoing chemotherapy. After Michelle passed away, her mother, ACS volunteer Ann Marie Morse, decided that no other student should face the same challenge. She helped pass Michelle’s Law in her state and has been a leader in seeing the federal version enacted.

Lindsay's story in pictures

Lindsay during treatment

Lindsay and her then boyfriend Gordon Walsh (They became engaged on Thanksgiving Day in 2008).

Lindsay and Gordon: Engagement photo

Lindsay: A survivor, running again