Meaghan Kramer, Lute Olson, Cameron Warner and Jami Reinsch. Those with Olson are some of the students who help plan and coordinate CATwalk events.
The CATwalk fundraiser began as a modest stroll along Greek row, the East Second Street strip of homes that belong to The University of Arizona’s fraternities and sororities.
Students coordinated the walk to raise money for women's cancer research and prevention at the Arizona Cancer Center. It was their way of reaching out to men’s basketball coach Lute Olson after his wife Bobbi Olson, who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, died in 2001.
“It has blossomed into a huge community event,” said Cameron Warner, the Interfraternity Council’s vice present for programming and CATWalk co-chair.
“It’s difficult to coordinate, but the organizations are dedicated to this tradition. The Greek community was dedicated to the basketball program and sense of community,” he said.
“It’s no longer a walk around Greek row. It’s a walk around campus," Warner said, adding that the event gets bigger with each passing year.
The Bobbi Olson Fund has since been established. Also, Lute Olson
made a personal goal to raise $5 million for cancer research and continues to applaud CATwalk.
“Supporting CATwalk is a great way to give back to the UA and Tucson community while showing solidarity in helping to fight for a cure for all women’s cancers,” Lute Olson said in a statement.
“Each year their enthusiasm and dedication amazes me.” Olson added “As you know, this is a personal commitment of mine – to find a cure. But, like a basketball game, there can’t be just one player on the court. This is a team effort.”
The UA students continue to aid Olson in his stride by donating money to the Bobbi Olson Fund to support cancer research.
This year’s walk, presented by Casino Del Sol, will be held Nov. 10 and features a 6.2 mile run that begins at noon, a family-friendly 3.1 mile walk that begins at 1 p.m. and a special kids walk that starts at 1:15 p.m.
It is the most ambitious CATwalk ever, as students hope to raise $100,000 – almost the same amount students have raised over the last six years, Warner said.
“We really wanted to step up this year,” said Warner, a Beta Theta Pi member who walked during the event for the first time last year.
This was also the first year the organizers allowed students to apply for assistant coordinator positions.
“We wanted to get more people excited about CATwalk and to encourage participation,” Warner said.
Throngs of students and community members will unite Saturday with the shared hope that women’s cancer will someday be defeated. Wilbur and Wilma will be there, and the day will culminate with free food and entertainment on the UA Mall.
Students have been planning since April, working on getting raffle items and food and putting out the word about the event while getting people on and off campus to sign up for the walk.
As of Friday morning, about 2,400 people had signed up, Warner said, and many more were expected.
“When you look at the numbers of women who are going to have some form of cancer, you realize it can affect everyone’s family,” he said. “This event is a connection to Lute but, in a greater connection, it is about women’s cancer research. We can help.”
The CATwalk registration and check-in will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. at the UA Bookstores, located at the Student Union Memorial Center. Festivities begin on the UA Mall at 11:30 and the award ceremony and raffle prize giveaway will be held at 2 p.m. The registration fee is $25 and covers the cost of a T-shirt, food and drink as well as a free entry into the drawing. To learn more, visit http://catwalk.arizona.edu.
Nick Adamakis
Arizona Student Unions
520-626-6260