SPH Alumnus Spotlight: Nora Santana and the Relay for Life

The North Fort Worth Relay for Life held at LaGrave Field on April 2-3 raised more than $35,000 for the American Cancer Society. But the home of the Fort Worth Cats baseball team would have remained dark and silent if not for the efforts of SPH alumnus Nora Santana.

After graduating from HSC in 2001, Santana served as the first committee event chair for the fundraiser in 2003 and made it the first bilingual Relay for Life in north Texas .

"I wanted to fulfill a personal goal after my MPH by going back to the community that I grew up in and do a community project," Santana said. "I decided to participate in the Relay for Life because I have had family and friends impacted by cancer."

Since its inception 18 years ago, Relay for Life has spread to 3,800 communities throughout the nation and become a signature event for the American Cancer Society. Volunteers form teams, spend the night in a park, school, or stadium, and take turns walking or running on a path for 24 hours straight. Before the night of the campout, the participants raise funds through individual solicitations and events like bake sales and car washes. The money raised is then donated to the American Cancer Society to help fund cancer research.

Kimberly Fulda, president-elect of the Public Health Student Association, participated in the Relay for the first time this year on a team formed by students and a faculty member at UNTHSC. Her experience reminded her of the importance of coming face-to-face with a disease that kills more than 500,000 Americans each year.

"I think participating in fund raisers and community events give public health students the opportunity to witness the spirit of both the community and victims of the disease," Fulda said.

"It was great to see the cancer survivors walk a lap around the track during opening ceremonies," Fulda said. "Not only did everyone cheer for them when they passed, but they cheered for us when we passed them. It was obvious they were thankful for all the teams' efforts."

Santana first learned about Relay for Life from fellow Hispanic Healthcare Professionals Organization member Robin Perez, who is program manager at the American Cancer Society of Tarrant and Denton counties and a current SPH student.

"Relay is a great event that promotes health through physical activity and offers the community a way to give back," Perez said. "In the future we would like to see both a student and alumni team from the UNTHSC School of Public Health."

Santana also hopes to see the Relay grow in the future. She helped mentor this year's event chair and served as a team coordinator.

"I am proud to be part of the growing community and share my knowledge and love of people," Santana said.

For more information on Relay for Life, visit www.cancer.org.