Area Teams Prepare to Walk for Cancer Awareness

Some students at Westborough's Porter and Chester Institute have promoted cancer awareness through posters around the campus, Career Services Advisor Tanya Kowalczyk says.

Sunday, a Porter and Chester team of about 30, including about 12 students, takes several other steps, literally, to support the fight against cancer.

The team will participate in the 14th Annual UMass Medicine Cancer Walk, at 10 a.m. at the UMass Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester.

A Porter and Chester team will participate for the second straight year, Kowalczyk said today.

"Watching the students get excited" is her favorite part, she said.

Last year's walk was "awesome. An inspiring, fun day," Kowalczyk said.

"We just had a wonderful time last year," she said.

The team raised about $500 last year, she said.

This year, the group will have raised $1,300 to $1,500, exceeding its goal of $1,000, Kowalczyk said.

Kowalczyk said her father diagnosed with non-curable prostate cancer nearly five years ago, and "he's doing well."

"It really does touch everyone," Kowalczyk said.

Part of the walk's appeal is "hearing people's positive stories," she said.

"It's nice that I'm starting to hear more positives than negatives," Kowalczyk said.