SAAC Recycles for Cancer

by Jessica Montgomery

Last fall, Adelphi's Student Athlete Advisory Committee joined forces with Winthrop-University Hospital and their Cancer Center for Kids. SAAC has become involved with Winthrop's "Cans for Cancer" program which has led to the start of a campus wide recycling program that began at the end of the fall semester. Bins, which are called RICI's (Recycling In Communities Incorporated), have been placed in buildings around campus for the Adelphi community to place their empty cans and bottles in. If you look, you can find the off-white bins in Levermore Hall, Science Building, Blodgett Hall, Woodruff Hall, Swirbul Library, and the Hy Weinberg Building, as well as blue and white bins in all of the residence halls. When the RICI's fill up, student-athletes come around and collect the cans and put them in a large dumpster so they can be collected by the Cancer Center and recycled. All the money that is raised from the redeemable items goes to help children with cancer and to help find a cure for the disease.

Adelphi has already helped the cancer center tremendously. "It helps in building a relationship with Winthrop-University Hospital for a greater cause, and allows us to help the many children who are suffering from a disease such as cancer. Anything we can do to contribute we will," said SAAC adviser Deneé Rivera. "It also teaches not only the athletes but the entire Adelphi community not to take life for granted. There are a lot of people who need help and SAAC hopes that through this kind of program we can do that."

Another way the student-athletes are helping with the "Cans for Cancer" project is by volunteering at concerts at Nassau Coliseum, Jones Beach Theater, and games at Shea Stadium. They stay after to collect the cans and bottles that are left after the concert and put them into dumpsters the Cancer Center places at each site. This spring they will also help Winthrop-University Hospital promote their annual Family Fun Walk / Run that raises money for the Cancer Center. SAAC, along with the Cross Country and Track teams, will be helping make this event a success by selling vouchers to anyone interested in attending the Family Fun Walk / Run.

Finally, as a way to wind down the spring semester, SAAC is going to host and sponsor a Spring-Fest for the children in the Cancer Center for Kids this coming April. They will invite the children to attend a carnival-like event that will take place on campus so student-athletes can meet and spend time with some of the children they are trying to help. They will be volunteering to run games and events, dress up as clowns, and face paint to entertain the children for the day.