SUNY Oneonta student musicians came together for a good cause during an Oneonta Fights Cancer Music Festival at the Alumni Field House on Friday, April 8.
The annual fundraiser was organized by the college’s Center for Social Responsibility and Community (CSRC) and Oneonta Fights Cancer Club, and all proceeds benefit Oneonta resident Doria Watson, who is battling esophageal cancer.
Student bands and artists Luke Mock, Red Shift, Side-B, Calico Man, Mirabella Phinney and Lily Soleil, and the college’s West African Drums ensemble, took the stage throughout the evening to entertain participants as they walked laps around the Dewar Arena.
Each year, the event includes a luminaria ceremony in remembrance and celebration of lost loved ones and those who are battling or have overcome cancer. On Friday, Watson spoke during the ceremony, expressing gratitude for the large support system and the students who organized and turned out for the event.
“I totally appreciate the walk and I am grateful to be the recipient,” she said afterward. “It’s not about the money donated but about raising awareness. Take care of yourself and listen to your body. Go to the doctor when you don’t feel right!”
SUNY Oneonta has organized the annual fundraiser to raise awareness and help local cancer patients since 2011, and the events have raised a cumulative total of $263,000 to date.
“Organizing this event is a pleasure for me,” said Linda Drake, executive director of the CSRC and advisor to the Oneonta Fights Cancer club. “We all know someone who has been affected by cancer. Anyone who participates in this event feels good about it at the end of the night. Together, we can make a difference while we support one another.”
