American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Walk Attracts More Than 675 St. John’s University Wide Participants

November 03, 2009

St. John’s University students, staff, administrators and faculty were out in full force on Queens Boulevard on Sunday, October 18 for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. 

Photo Gallery

As a Flagship sponsor with a ten-year track record of participation, St. John’s University walkers lined the streets in Queens and Staten Island with their red t-shirts and totaled more than 675 walkers in all.  Joseph Sciame, Vice President for Community Relations and a member of the Advisory Board of the Queens Division of ACS, was one of the Flagship Sponsor speakers who greeted the thousands of people on Queens Boulevard, and thanked walkers and volunteers for their efforts in making the day so successful.

“It is important to note this day, that despite the inclement weather both in Queens and on Staten Island, some 675 students are marching in order to eradicate this dreadful disease that effects the lives of so many in our society.  We support this worthy effort annually in educating our students about health care and early detection of cancer. The medical evidence proves this saves lives,” said Sciame. “University life is about education and engagement, and we walk each year in order to educate and someday help in finding that cure. We are indeed ‘partners’ in the search for a cure.”

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is an opportunity to honor breast cancer survivors, educate women about prevention and early detection, and raise funds and awareness to help achieve a day when the world would be free of breast cancer. This year the St. John’s Queens campus walkers helped to raise in excess of $22,000, under the guidance of Marge Cashin, Community Relations Assistant, who was St. John’s coordinator in Queens.

In addition, representatives at the Staten Island campus, also a Flagship sponsor, participated in Clove Lakes Park with over 175 walkers. The day started off with a mass in the Rev. James Kiernan Suite in the Kelleher Center, followed by a complimentary breakfast. Buses then took the walkers to the site and helped to raise the much needed funds. Once again, Staten Island students and friends, under the auspices of the Student Health Services and Institutional Advancement, all made progress in raising needed funds and fighting cancer with early detection and prevention.   Margaret Tierney, RN, was St. John’s Staten Island coordinator.

For further information, or to make an additional donation to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, please contact the Office of Community Relations at (718) 990-1941 in Queens or, in Staten Island, contact Margaret Tierney, RN, at (718) 390-4447.  For more information about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer effort visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline.