| Carleton swimmers help raise funds for cancer research |
By: JEFF WALD, Sports Editor
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Posted: Saturday, November 14, 2009 2:01 am
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NORTHFIELD — Four the fourth straight year, Carleton College led a nation-wide event to help fight the cause for sarcoma cancer research.
The Knights swimming and diving team hosted the “Ted Mullin Hour of Power Relay” from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Thorpe Pool. There, the men’s and women’s teams swam a relay event for an hour straight, swimming in 50-yard increments in Mullin’s honor.
Mullin, originally from the Chicago area, died of synovial cell sarcoma on Labor Day weekend back in 2006. More than 100 teams around the nation participated in Tuesday’s event. Northfield native Jim Penning, currently battling Ewing’s sarcoma, participated in the event down at Luther College, where he is a member of the men’s swimming and diving team in his freshman year.
When the event began in 2006, 15 teams joined together to raise team spirit, cancer awareness and $11,000. Last year, the number of participating teams exploded to 104, including 85 college and university programs, 17 high school & club teams, and two students-abroad teams. In 2008, these nearly 6,000 athletes raised over $50,000 for the fund, bringing the three-year total to more than $100,000. Carleton has averaged raising around $4,000 annually for the event.
Upon finishing the event, the Knights received a standing ovation from fans and fellow athletes. Basketball coach Guy Kalland stopped his practice so that the team could take in the last 15 minutes and start the standing ovation.
Funds raised for the Ted Mullin Fund for Sarcoma Research act as seed funding for the University of Chicago pediatric sarcoma research program, allowing collaborative efforts between clinicians and physician-scientists in the identification of the causes of sarcoma, at the most basic molecular and cellular levels.
— Jeff Wald covers local sports. He can be reached at 645-1111 or jwald@northfieldnews.com. |
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