You’ve probably heard of Race to Live. You know it’s a 5k, you know the money benefits breast cancer education and awareness, and you know that the Zeta Tau Alphas at Florida State host it every year. But you wonder: Is this just an event they put on because they’re required to have philanthropy events to remain an organization? Do they actually care about the cause?
The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation has been raising money for breast cancer education and awareness since 1992. ZTA is also a co-sponsor for The Survivor Recognition Program, the National Football League’s “A Crucial Catch” campaign, and Lifetime Television.
Does ZTA at FSU have to hold philanthropy events each year? Yes. Do they have to raise money for breast cancer education and awareness? No, but they choose to for a reason.
When Brianna Connell, a junior in ZTA at FSU, was asked why ZTA is so passionate about the cause, she said, “If you stood up in your classroom, at a restaurant, work, the grocery store, or the mall, and asked who has been or knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer, there is a painfully high chance that every single hand will be raised in the air.” Each member of ZTA at FSU holds this cause dear to their hearts, not only because it is their philanthropy, but also because breast cancer is a vicious disease that affects everyone in some way. It is a disease that must be fought by everyone in order for it to be stopped.
At the beginning of each fall semester, each member of ZTA at FSU is assigned to a committee. Every committee is assigned tasks to complete in order to make each Race to Live the best yet. The sponsorship and hospitality committee is in charge of seeking out potential businesses to donate money and/or supplies to the race. The sponsorship committee is also responsible for signing up as many people as possible by advertising the events around campus with sign-up forms. The public relations committee ensures that information about Race to Live is on every social media site, enticing runners to come from all over the Tallahassee area. The race course committee sets up the entire course for the day of the race, and makes sure the necessary roads are blocked for participants to run safely around campus. Lastly, ZTA has a survivor dinner committee. During the week leading up to the race, ZTA invites breast cancer survivors from Tallahassee and the surrounding areas to attend this event.
Jessica Howells, the head director of Race to Live this year, spends hours on end every week planning and making arrangements for the race. It is a tough job to take on. When asked why she applied to be the head director of Race to Live, she said, “Race to Live has come to mean so much to me over the years because of how great our cause is. Unfortunately many of our sisters have personal connections to this disease, and that has pushed me every day to help make this year’s Race to Live the most successful it can be.”
ZTA’s runner goal this year is 2,000 and it is only $15 to register. The race is the morning of October 11th. Help them exceed their goal and run in the hopes that the money you donate to Race to Live, and breast cancer education and awareness, saves a life.