Greetings fellow STEMians, Spring is just around the corner (though the weather seems to disagree) and that means it is almost time for the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life of Youngstown. For those that may not know, Relay for Life events comprise the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. They are held in communities across the globe to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken so much. Teams from across the Youngstown community camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a path in Beeghly Center. The Youngstown event is 24 hours long, and because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. The best part of course, is that the funds raised truly make a difference in the fight against cancer (just ask one of the nearly 14 million cancer survivors who will celebrate another birthday this year!) This past spring The STEM Leadership Society started a STEM Student Organization team and I am very proud to announce that we were the top fundraising new team in 2013 – placing 2nd for the most money raised by a college team – raising $1,782! Money which then goes to support programs for research, education and services for patients and their families whose lives have been touched by cancer. Preparations for this year’s team are well underway, with a variety of fundraising items and events in the works. Last year we sold paracord key chains as our primary fundraiser and will be doing so again this year, along with bracelets and zipper-pulls. SLS’s challenge for this year’s Relay – beyond surpassing previous fundraising efforts – is to start traditions which will translate to continued success in the future, and to do that we really need all the help we can get. You see, SLS is one of many organizations within the STEM College’s scope and while we can do a good job on our own, imagine what we could do with two or three organizations working together? Or say a dozen? The potential we could have together would go beyond good; it could be really great! Professionally and academically, that’s what the STEM College has done for us. It’s brought together a diverse array of scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians and in doing so provided a means for us to work together to discover solutions we likely couldn’t have individually. That’s one of the cool things about Relay for Life. In much the same way, Relay has this ability to bring people together, all sharing some personal experience, some past pain, and channeling it into something constructive, something that in the future might afford others a means to avoid that same suffering. And do you know what the best part is? It’s working! Research has provided new means of detection, better methods of treatment, and overall higher rates of surviving cancer. All this being said, we would ask that you please consider supporting the efforts of the YSU STEM Student Organization’s team this year and how you’d like to do that is totally up to you. By clicking on the link below, you can make a tax-deductible contribution to the American Cancer Society, dedicate a luminaria to be placed around the track in honor or memory of a family member or friend – a great opportunity as the luminaria donations are being generously matched again this year – or join our team. If you would like to add your organization to our efforts, have any ideas for fundraisers, would like to keep in the loop on what events we’ll be taking part in leading up to the main event, or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our team captain, Ashley Bowers, or myself.

Warm regards and many thanks, Massey Fowler STEM Leadership Society President   

Click here to view the TEAM page for YSU STEM Student Organizations