Milestone Year for St. John’s Relay For Life®

A record 1,962 students joined in solidarity at the Queens campus on April 21 to raise more than $137,200 for the fight against cancer at St. John’s 12th Annual Relay For Life®—bringing the total raised by the University’s students since 2006 to more than $1 million.

“In true St. John’s style, you have risen to the top,” said Kathryn T. Hutchinson, Ph.D., Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs, as she addressed the students. “You—the St. John’s students—have officially raised over $1 million!”

The 12-hour event, which benefits the American Cancer Society, began at 6 p.m. on Friday and concluded at 6 a.m. the following morning. Throughout the night, students representing 116 teams, student clubs, and Greek organizations marched around the perimeter of Carnesecca Arena’s basketball court in support of those who have succumbed to or survived cancer.

St. John’s Staten Island campus hosts its own Relay For Life® event on Friday, April 28.

“St. John’s is the only college or university in the metro area to break the million-dollar fundraising mark,” said Meaghan Neary, Senior Community Manager, American Cancer Society. “Once again, the University exceeded expectations.”

In her keynote address, Jill Christensen, Associate Athletic Trainer, spoke of her own battle with cancer, as well as the people in her life she has lost to the disease, including her brother—who passed away as a child—and both parents.

“During all these life-changing experiences, the one common thread was the love, prayers, support, caring, concern, generosity, and kindness that cancer brought out in people,” she remarked. “That is what cancer cannot take away.”

Like many at the event, she implored students to remain for its duration. “Stay the night for all those people that you hold near and dear to your heart,” she said. “We are striving to reach the morning—and the dawn of a new day with the hope of conquering cancer.”

Yougnand “Yugi” Paul ’17TCB, who has participated in the event every year since he was a freshman, raised more than $525 this year. “I ask family for my Christmas gifts to be in the form of a donation,” he said. “I raise money in honor of my dad, who passed away from advanced leukemia in 2009.” Yugi makes the same request for donations for his birthday.

“This night is about supporting those who are fighting, recognizing the survivors, and honoring those who are taken—and believing that one day we will finish this fight and find a cure,” said Mary H. Pelkowski, Associate Dean for Student Engagement. “I am blessed to work with a core group of leaders who believed we could reach the million dollar mark, which we have surpassed by nearly $40,000.”

“At St. John’s, we’re always talking about our mission, service, and being the answer to the question of ‘What must be done?’” said Julia Mackey ’17C, who was committed to staying the night. “That’s why when the clock strikes 2 a.m., I won’t be thinking about how tired I might be—I’ll be thinking about the people that have fought cancer, are fighting cancer, and those to come.”