NCC Students, Community Relay for Life
College hosts one of three walk events to fight cancer

After 19-year-old student Kerra Matteson died of cancer in September 2003, her friends and classmates at North Central College channeled their grief into organizing the College's first-ever Relay for Life.

This past Friday, North Central students, faculty and staff joined to remember Matteson's spirit for the 5th Annual Relay for Life. The Friday and Saturday, May 2-3 walkathon was held in Merner Field House, 450 S. Brainard St. This year's theme was "Dancing Through the Decades, Stepping for a
Cure."

North Central College student Heather Krug was excited to be involved this year.

"This celebration of life brings the community together in a unified effort
to fight cancer and symbolizes the fight that cancer patients must face
after they are diagnosed with cancer," Kurg said.

The overnight walkathon is part of the American Cancer Society's (ACS)
effort to raise money for cancer prevention, treatment and research. The
ceremony began with North Central students Amanda Nousain and Alex Mersman
singing the national anthem. Next Lora Tyson, associate professor of
education, spoke about her personal battle with cancer.

Every year the first lap, for survivors, kicks off the relay. New to this
year's Relay for Life was a ceremony, "Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back."

"Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back" is the next step in the evolution of an
event that changes lives, according to an ACS representative working with
North Central College on the college's website. Relay For Life brings
together more than 3.5 million people every year to celebrate the lives of
those who battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and empower individuals
and communities to fight back against cancer.

Organizers for the event recruited 38 teams that included 300 people. Each
team raised money to participate, and members took turns walking laps around
the track throughout the night.

This is one of three relay for life events in Naperville. A Relay for Life
for South Naperville residents is held at Neuqua Valley High School and the
Relay For Life of North Naperville/Lisle will be held at Naperville North
High School.

Register for the event or make a donation at www.relayforlifencc.com.

Jacqui Stevenson Reports.