Making a Difference: Honors Student Leads a Walk to Fight Childhood Cancer

Honor student Maria Morrero is organizing faculty, students and staff to raise money at the St. Jude Give Thanks Walk Nov. 23 at the Philadelphia Zoo.

The five-mile walk is one of 75 that will take place in cities across the nation that day to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a research and treatment facility in Memphis dedicated to curing and treating pediatric cancer and deadly childhood diseases.

Area colleges such as La Salle and Villanova have teams participating in the walk. Morrero, a Liberal Arts major in her last semester, said she wants Community College of Philadelphia–the city’s only public institution of higher learning–to be represented. Walkers will receive Community College of Philadelphia buttons.

“I can’t imagine a nobler attempt than combating childhood cancer,” said Morrero, who organized the effort with fellow students, Vince Ancona, Adebayo Bello, Dominic Docimo and Kerry Walters. “It’s a privilege to work alongside other dedicated community college students to fight childhood cancer. It’s our role as students not only to further ourselves but to help the wider community.”

The walking team has set a goal of registering at least 25 walkers from the Main Campus and Northeast, Northwest and West Regional Centers. The team’s fundraising goal is $300.

Members of the College family who want to support this student-powered campaign to make a difference either can donate funds or sign-up to join the walk at http://walk.stjude.org/CCP. There is no fee to register. The team also plans to take on-site donations and registration during the Nov. 19 reception ceremony for the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society induction in the Pavilion.

“Any amount can make a difference,” Morrero said. “Donations make up 75 percent of St. Jude’s funding. Donations enable St. Jude to pay for everything so that families don’t have to. This includes care, housing, transportation and meals.”