3/29/13

SLU Students to Host 'Kick It for Claire' Zumbathon April 13

    
CANTON –More than 15 St. Lawrence University organizations are coming together and hosting a family-friendly Zumbathon event to raise money in honor of a local 2-year-old Norwood girl living with cystic fibrosis.

Community Mentor student staff at St. Lawrence’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) will host “Kick It for Claire” at St. Lawrence’s Newell Field House on Saturday, April 13, from noon to 4 p.m. A donation of at least $1 is encouraged in lieu of an entrance fee for the event.

The event will raise money to help Claire Nezezon, who has cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.

“We are so honored for our ‘Claire Bear’ to have been chosen for the event,” Jess Nezezon, Claire’s mother, said. “Raising awareness and fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis has become a mission for me and my family since Claire was born and diagnosed with CF two years ago. This event will help us accomplish this and we are looking forward to it being a fun family event and a celebration of everyone’s hard work.”

Local instructors will teach Zumba from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., while numerous other games, as well as a silent auction and 50/50 raffle, will take place throughout the afternoon.

All proceeds of the fundraiser go toward a fund in Claire’s name at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Central New York for research to find a cure as well as help with medical expenses.

Madison Wilcox, St. Lawrence Class of 2014 from Theresa, N.Y., started “Kick It for a Cause” last year after reading about a local girl diagnosed with leukemia. With help from the Center for Civic Engagement and other students and organizations on campus, Wilcox pulled together last year’s event to raise money for the girl’s family. Julie Johnson, with the Center for Civic Engagement, encouraged Wilcox and the Community Mentor staff at the center to make it an annual event that honors one local child every year. Anna Manning, Class of 2015, and Wilcox are the event coordinators for this year’s event.

“‘Kick It for a Cause’ takes advantage of the amazing closeness and connection between our campus and the North Country community,” Wilcox said. “Not only does it bring together student groups of all kinds, but it also unites the local community and St. Lawrence University in support of the same cause – helping a local child.

“To me, giving back to the community that has given so much to us is vital,” she added. “If we can all help each other out, we can accomplish things greater than we had ever imagined.”

Wilcox said the response from last year’s event was overwhelmingly positive, brought together more than 500 people and raised $5,000 for the girl’s family.

“I can’t wait to see the community and campus come together again. It was truly breathtaking to watch the collaboration and sense of community last year,” Wilcox said. “I couldn’t be happier that the CCE has taken on this event and can’t wait to see the impact it will continue to have on our local community.”

The Center for Civic Engagement has created a Facebook event and a fundraising website for “Kick It for Claire.”