On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Cardozo High School held the second annual S.O Leadership Breast Cancer Walkathon from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m on the school’s track.
It was a fairytale scene as dozens of students and staff came together to walk, skip, run, and donate money for the fight against breast cancer. Every time someone finished a lap, the crowd cheered for the participant’s accomplishment.
Ms. Salisbury, art teacher and coordinator of student activities, was the mastermind behind the event, assisted by the leadership class. This was her second time hosting the walk at Cardozo, raising $1,000 in donations for breast cancer research and wig-making for patients last year.
“Students and staff come to my classroom, or room 109,” Ms. Salisbury explained, pointing out how the donation process works for the walkathon. “They get a copy of a donation sheet, where they can write the sponsors they collected. They can pledge whatever amount of money per lap, or they can give a flat donation. Then participants can bring this paper back with them to the walkathon.”
These donations do not have to be made prior to the event. Deals and flat donations can be given upfront when students and staff enter the track. Once all the money has been collected and counted, they are converted into checks to be sent to the causes.
Setting up these large events never goes without any challenges, and this cause was no different. Similar to other awareness campaigns, the Breast Cancer Walkathon struggled with its number one enemy: participation.
“The problem that I find with most events like this is student involvement,” confessed Ms. Salisbury. “Until it hits home and you know someone personally who has experienced it, it’s like outside of their realm of understanding.”
Resolute in avoiding a similar situation as last year, in which only a few students arrived at the walkathon, Ms. Salisbury devised a plan for success. Taking advantage of time, she decided to promote it earlier: case in point, the numerous reminders in the morning announcement. She also enlisted Instagram posts as her ally. In addition, Ms. Salisbury reached out to several sports teams to recruit walkers.
Her efforts paid off, as she gained countless more participants while the sun began to step out from its dark, cold blanket. The brightened light shined on the painted faces of the wrestling team decked out in pink in support of the cancer fight.
Ms. Salisbury’s decision to host the walkathon comes from a simple place: her desire to help others. “We’re a school with a heart. If we are a school with a heart, then we have to show people we have a big heart. And we do this by giving back to the community,” she declared.
And what better way to demonstrate this than with an event that encourages camaraderie and exercise?
Ms. Clark, assistant principal of guidance, shared Ms. Salisbury’s sentiments, affirming, “Cardozo has always had a reputation for helping and supporting, and I think that when you think in terms of HERO, empathy, and selflessness, we should always do our job to help support people in need. This breast cancer cause provides a great way to do that.”
Ms. Clark represented the guidance office at the walkathon and recalled her goal to walk two miles around the track. In return, the guidance office said they would donate 25 cents per lap from each staff member who agreed to support the cause.
Other staff members that could not participate in the walkathon after school had taken the liberty of using their free period to rack in the laps. Even if you were unable to support the walkathon this year, there is a potential opportunity for the event’s third anniversary next year.
As Ms. Salisbury fondly believes, “It is always a good thing to use your time and effort for worthy causes. No matter how little, everything makes a difference.”
