community focus and volunteerism

Colleges Against Cancer raises awareness at Butler University
When her friend’s mother was diagnosed with leukemia, Indiana resident Carly Decker, then in the eighth grade, wanted a way to fight back. She and her friends thought Relay For Life would be a fantastic way to get involved, and she’s participated ever since. When she started school at Butler University, she knew that she wanted to continue with Relay on campus. That’s when she found out about Colleges Against Cancer (CAC), an American Cancer Society program which allows college students, faculty, and staff to work together to bring ACS programs and services to college communities nationwide. Since then, Carly, a senior at Butler, has served as the secretary, vice president, and now president of Butler’s CAC chapter.

The group, which currently has about 30 active members, is in its fifth year. While the group has been heavily focused on Relay For Life in the past, Carly said they’ve been working to do more activities and programs year-round, including Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Great American Smokeout.

This year, the group has started petitions to convince Butler to go smokefree. "A lot of the colleges around here have gone smokefree, but Butler still refuses to," said Suzanne Daily, ACS Community Representative for Central Indiana. "Just letting the faculty know that the students care about it is a huge accomplishment."

Carly added that the initiative was another way for Butler to promote healthy lifestyles. "We have a new fitness complex, we have new dining that has more healthy options, but I think this is another way Butler can show their commitment to promoting that to the student body," she said.

To promote breast cancer awareness this year, the Butler CAC decided to "paint the campus pink" by hanging up posters around campus and handing out ACS pamphlets to promote healthy lifestyles and cancer awareness. "College kids aren’t always aware of the fact that this disease could touch them," said Carly. "We just want to enlighten them to the fact that the things they’re doing now really are going to impact them later."

One of the ways the group continues to inform their campus is through Relay For Life. The group has big goals for their April Relay this year, including a fundraising goal of $60,000 and a goal of about 52 teams. "Their motivation and their passion for it are just amazing, and it’s an inspiration to work with them," Suzanne said of the CAC group.

Most recently, the group co-sponsored a basketball game with their nationally ranked men’s team, asking all cancer survivors to stand at halftime. The demonstration provided a powerful reminder that cancer touches everyone.

"Seeing the number of people in Hinkle Fieldhouse that stood up just gave me goosebumps," said Carly. "For me, it’s about that celebration of survivorship. Everything I do for CAC is about that."

To get involved with Colleges Against Cancer, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Pictured: Butler University students (top right); Butler University student section at Hinkle Fieldhouse (bottom left)