Saint Xavier University will be holding the Walk for Life event on Saturday April 12 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The goal of the event is to raise awareness as well as funds to support or-ganizations in Chicago that provide the basic necessities, education, and healthcare to the under-privileged. The event was created by Saint Xavier University Senior Biology/Pre-Med major Jessica Munoz.
Munoz was inspired to create the event during high school when she took part in a Relay for Life event in her local community, this event made her value events that were aimed at bringing the community together for a common goal.
When she arrived at Saint Xavier University, Munoz was surprised to find that no such event was present at the university. After waiting until she gained more clout at the university, Munoz began to discuss hosting such an event with her friends.
Finally, in her senior year Munoz was able to gain approval to host the event and get support from the many students, clubs, and faculty on Saint Xavier’s campus.
This involvement from the campus community is what Munoz believes will really make the event a success overall. Many students have spent a great deal of time helping to coordinate and setup the event that will be a colossal endeavor.
The Walk for Life event itself will feature many club and student sponsored activities going on during its seven hour runtime.
Some of the events Jessica highlighted were live paintings, a flash mob dance, and open mic performances. There also is a planned volleyball and basketball match that will pit Saint Xavier students against the faculty of the university.
“The goal is to get people to stay longer at the event and become actively engaged with fellow students and faculty members,” stated Jessica as she explained the importance of having so many activities setup for the Walk for Life event.
Walk for Life is also aimed at earning proceeds that will be donated to the organizations that benefit the underprivileged in the Chicagoland area.
These organizations include the Port Ministries Clinic a basic health care provider for the poor and homeless, El Valor an organization aimed at providing programs to those with disabilities, and Kiva Loans whose non-profit work focuses on micro-financing those who are in the most need.
All of these organizations are active within the city of Chicago and provide countless people with opportunities and benefits they desperately need to survive.
The money made from Walk for Life will be donated to these groups, but Munoz encourages that people also take the time to donate on the event’s webpage, www.sxuwalk4life.myevent.com.
Event creator Munoz believes that the event will allow for students and faculty members to be able to have a dialogue of substance about real world issues at the event, and she hopes it does happen the night of April 12.
The amount of faculty and clubs helping to make the event possible are numerous. Clubs and groups such as the Tri Beta Biology Honor Society, Service Club, Mercy Students for Peace and Justice, Unidos, and the Muslim Student Associa-tion are helping to make this event a success. Many individuals on campus have also helped bring the event together, such as Esther Sanborn from Campus Ministry and Colleen Sehy who is in charge of Schmitt Scholars.
With an overwhelming amount of support from the Saint Xavier community it seems destined that Walk for Life will be an exciting and interactive event for Saint Xavier students and faculty.
When April 12 comes up it is more than worth your time to attend Walk for Life in order to gain awareness of some of the challenges that the poor and disenfranchised face, as well as find ways to help those in need.
Jake Alleruzzo
News Correspondent
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