A walk called “Strides for Sunshine” will be held on campus Sunday, April 9, at 11 a.m. The walk is in memory of Katie Vashon, senior public relations major, who died last semester in a sudden battle with leukemia.
The five kilometer walk will be hosted by Phi Sigma Sigma, the sorority Vashon was a part of. The walk will begin outside the gym. Those taking part include members of the athletic department, as well as friends and family of Vashon.
The proceeds from the walk will go to “Katie’s Fund.” The fund was established in Vashon’s name to sponsor families to attend Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine.
Camp Sunshine, where Vashon volunteered and raised money, is a camp for children with terminal illnesses and their families. It is funded through donations and volunteer hours. Families attend the camp free of charge with the help of a sponsor.
“Katie was always involved with community service this is how we can remember her,” said Vashon’s best friend, Kathryn Moriarty, a graduate student at Quinnipiac.
Moriarty, also a member of Phi Sigma Sigma, said “the goal is to reach $25,000 for the walk.”
Phi Sigma Sigma and the athletic department have been working on the walk for six months. They have raised over $5,000 to date.
Donations were gathered at local businesses such as Ray & Mikes, New Haven Cutters and UPS. The comedian, Dane Cook, who performed last May Weekend at Quinnipiac, contributed one thousand
dollars.
Over three hundred people are currently registered to walk. Vashon’s family is driving six hours from Maine to participate.
“They are proud of it,” Moriarty said. “Her family is the driving force behind it. If Katie was here to see the walk, she would be modest and proud of it. She was very passionate about Camp Sunshine.”
The walk is open to everyone. There will be a DJ, raffle prizes, children’s activities and food. The pre-registration fee is $5 and $10 to register the day of the walk. Sign-ups will begin at 10 a.m.
Phi Sigma Sigma and the athletic department will be accepting donations as well.
