Portsmouth Abbey Community Raises $3,836 for Cancer Research

's Cancer Awareness Week 2012 wrapped up on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, with the 12^th Annual Walk for Cancer. The walk began under sunny skies at noon from in front of the Squash and Fitness Center, with 92 participants following a two-mile course along the perimeter of campus and the Carnegie Abbey Golf Course.  

Many walked to honor a loved one who is currently battling, or has survived, cancer; others walked in memory of family members or friends who lost their lives to the disease. All walked to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for cancer, which will affect one in every two men, and one in every three women, during their lifetimes. Cancer kills more than 1,500 Americans, and 20,000 people around the world, every day.   

The walk was started in 2001 by Keith Hoffman '05, his brother, Bill '00, and sister, Lisa '02, after losing their father to cancer.  Since then, the Abbey community has raised some $55,000 through the annual walk and related activities.   

Throughout Cancer Awareness Week, students wore different color-coded clothing each day, and purchased colored bracelets, to raise awareness for a particular type of cancer. The school held a Dress-Down Day on Friday, May 11, and a coffeehouse that night, bringing the total raised-to-date during the week to $3,836. All funds raised will go to the American Cancer Society.

If you were unable to participate in this year's Walk for Cancer but would like to contribute to the fundraising effort, please send a check, made payable to the American Cancer Society, in care of Therese Thomas, 2012 Walk for Cancer, Portsmouth Abbey School, 285 Cory's Lane, Portsmouth, RI  02871.  Contributions of any size will be gratefully accepted until Monday, May 21.

Thank you to all who walked and all who have contributed!