Queen's Law Runs for the Cure

The 2008 Queen's Law Team for the annual CIBC Run for the Cure on October 5, 2008.

"For My Mom," a sign pinned across one runner said.  "For Nanny," read another.

Twenty Queen's Law students ran, walked, and jogged their way through the annual CIBC Run for the Cure on October 5, 2008, team name proudly emblazoned across their backs.  Despite the chilly start, the sun broke through to gently spur on almost 1,800 participants as the run began on the perimeter of St. Lawrence College.

The team effort was one of the first events initiated and organized by co-presidents of the Queen's Law Cancer Society Courtney Petch, Law ‘09, and Lori Goldberg, Law ‘09.  The CIBC run, with runners covering a one- or five-kilometer course, is one of the largest single-day, volunteer-chaired fundraisers to support breast cancer research, education, and treatment. 

"It's a cause that affects everyone," Courtney said.  "It doesn't discriminate: a lot of people are affected by cancer."

Beginning in 2006, this is the third year that Queen's Law has participated in the Run for the Cure.  The team, although small in running numbers, came up big in fundraising, raising more money than any other school team in the Kingston area. 

Jason Schmidt, Law '09, brought in more than $1,600, making him the fourth-highest fundraising student in the Kingston region.  Another participant, Kathleen Price, Law '09, donated half the proceeds of a win from an impromptu third-year law students' Survivor-inspired game to the charity run.

Through the strong efforts of all the participants, Queen's Law scooped up the School Team Challenge Award this year, presented to the top-fundraising school team at each site.  The effort by the school club contributed more than $4,241 to the overall $245,000 brought in by the city of Kingston.

Enthusiasm and support was at a high during the brisk morning run, and the success of the morning and surplus of good spirit bodes well for other Queen's Law Cancer Society events lined up for the 2008-09 year, such as the Cabaret for a Cure event and a silent auction.  

With the best turnout at the run site since the club's inauguration, and the upcoming events under their belt, the Queen's Law Cancer Society looks forward to setting new fundraising goals as participation and involvement in the club continues to grow over the course of the year.