May 15, 2009

LAS VEGAS -

Photo Gallery for the Rebels at the Race for the Cure

For the second straight spring, the UNLV women's soccer coaching staff asked each class to come up with a community service event for the whole team to participate in. The sophomore class choose for the team to participate at the Susan B. Komen 5k Race for the Cure event. We now present Sarah Naranjo's report on the team's experience.

Sarah Naranjo

On Saturday, May 2, the UNLV Women's Soccer team volunteered at the Susan B. Komen 5k Race for the Cure event. This year it was the 14th annual race help up to date. The race is designed to emphasize breast cancer awareness within the community. Even though it is a 5k race, if participants are not up for running there is also a walk. About 17,000 runners and walkers turned out for the event in the historic downtown Las Vegas, including UNLV's own Rebel Girls.

The UNLV Women's Soccer team acted as "cheerleaders" spread out along the sidelines of the 5k race. With enthusiastic voices and encouraging cheers, it gave the runners and walkers an extra push towards that finish line. There were a number of motivating rally cries and chants that all the volunteers at the event were taught to say. For example one being, "See your doctor, learn your risk! I AM THE CURE!"

It was a great and rewarding experience to help volunteer at this event. The event gathered thousands of dollars in donations for further breast cancer research. As stated before, it is held annually, and this was the second appearance for the UNLV Women's soccer team, as we also volunteered in 2008. Finally, for people still interested in donating, fundraising for the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure will remain open until May 31, 2009.