» By Tiffany Comer
–tcomer@my.apsu.edu
Over the summer, the Social Work Club decided to collaborate with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” walk. Each year the Social Work Club chooses a special project.
The “Light the Night” walk will take place at Nashville’s LP Field Friday, Oct. 12, at 6:00 p.m.
This year they chose the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because its missions hit close to home with the club.
SWC president Michelle Swallows is also a cancer survivor and discovered the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society while receiving extensive treatments at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The society helps families pay for expenses not covered by insurance, boarding close to the hospital and traveling expenses.
“The society choosing this organization for this year is amazing. It gives me hope for a future and a cure,” Swallows said.
Many of the other club members have also been affected by cancer either personally or through a friend or loved one.
As a fundraiser, the SWC sold Southern Maid Donuts for $5 a dozen until Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Rather than being forced to buy donuts for the event, the SWC had all its goods donated by Ed Hunter, the owner of Southern Maid Donuts. Hunter agreed to donate as many donuts as the club can get orders for so that all proceeds can benefit the “Light the Night” walk.
The club hopes to raise $1,000 through the event and to continue to partner with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for many more years.
Several members of the club and 12 students have already signed up for the walk.
The club looks forward to more students taking part in the event.
“It amazes me how many people one thing affects, and to be able to take part in helping those people is a humbling experience,” said Social Work Club member Briana Roberson.
The goal for each “Light the Night” participant is to raise at least $100.
This donation will provide each participant with a free dinner, T-shirt and a self-paced two-mile walk with an illuminated balloon, as well as benefitting the society and the families it helps.
“The event is all about acknowledging cancer and how many lives it affects,” Roberson said.
If you are interested in signing up for “Light the Night,” contact the Social Work Club president Michelle Swallows via email at mswallows1@my.apsu.edu, or Austin Peay Social Work Club on Facebook. To sign up for the event directly, click here.
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