A new cancer awareness club has started at Bakersfield College.
The club’s main activity will be Relay for Life held at the Cal State Bakersfield soccer field on April 30.? Groups began to meet two months before the event is set to take place in order to create teams to raise the money.
“The money goes toward the American Cancer Society, cancer research, cancer absentees, and all these great things,” said Susan Kim, president of the club.
“The event is about raising money, but it is really about survivorship.”
The club works with the American Cancer Society and is present in other community colleges and universities as well.
“It is kind of like a chapter of a national type of club,” said Kim.
“American Cancer Society set it up because they truly believe college students can make a difference.”
Kim considered the idea of creating a club on campus after attending a youth summit hosted by the ACS last summer. Some other members at the summit helped Kim start the club.
“After that, I was like it’s about time to start a club, because I was involved in Relay for Life for about two years in high school, and when I came I wanted to continue with it,” said Kim.
The club welcomes students regardless of their health status.
Steven Mahlmana, one of the cancer club’s members, thinks it is a positive way to get the community involved.
“I’ve done Relay for Life in the past, and I’ve known a lot of people who had cancer, and I think it is a good way to get the community involved,” he said.
“It makes people feel good raising money.”
The club meets every Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Science and Engineering 38.
The club is trying to spread the message by passing out fliers, announcing in classes and giving away brownies.