BU Relay for Life Keeps GSDM Team Awake All Night
A team of approximately 30 students, faculty, and friends of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), including Dean Jeffrey W. and Mrs. Kathy Hutter and ASDA Faculty Advisor Dr. Joseph Calabrese and Mrs. Michelle Calabrese participated in the BU Relay for Life on April 17-18. The Relay for Life is a 12-hour walk/run event to benefit the American Cancer Society that was held at Boston University Track and Tennis Center. This year the Relay was held on the same day as Boston University’s inaugural Global Day of Service.
The team from GSDM, armed with their complimentary “BU Dental Relay for Life” t-shirts from BU ASDA, started walking the track together at 6 p.m. They participated in other fun activities throughout the night, such as: poker and dodge ball tournaments, root-beer pong, football, fencing, and a race to thaw a frozen t-shirt.
In addition to the fun, the group from GSDM also had a serious component to their participation. They presented an oral cancer awareness booth that highlighted important facts regarding early detection, risks, and the treatment of oral cancer. They would like to thank Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications Laura Mackin for donating and assisting with the supplies for the booth.
“I know that a 12-hour walk can sound like a less than desirable way to spend a Saturday night; however, I was so pleased to see my peers having a blast,” said Courtney Brady DMD 11. “I hope that word will get out about how much fun Relay is so that we can inspire more people to get involved in the years to come! Cancer isn’t selective and it affects us all in some way, so it was great to get together with students, faculty, and their family members to fight back.”
The BU Relay for Life continued through the night until 6 a.m. Around 2 a.m., the GSDM team handed out toothbrushes and toothpaste to the relay-ers on the track. This provided a unique way to promote good oral hygiene at the event.
The GSDM team raised over $1,000 for the American Cancer Society. In total, the entire BU Relay for Life event has already raised over $87,000 for the American Cancer Society. Donations will be accepted until August.
Photos of the Relay for Life are available on GSDM’s flickr account and also on the Facebook page.