Lute Olson’s sixth annual CATwalk raised $82,000 for treatment and research of women’s cancer yesterday, topping last year’s figure by $62,000 and raising more money than the past five years combined.
“”Wow, that’s an unbelievable number,”” said Olson, UA men’s basketball head coach and host of the CATwalk.
Event organizers aimed to raise $50,000 at this year’s event, but the CATwalk ended up exceeding expectations.
All the revenue from the CATwalk will benefit the women’s division of the Arizona Cancer Center, which is one of the top 15 cancer centers in the United States, according to the University Medical Center’s Web site.
“”The women’s center is going to be No. 1, thanks to what (participants) are doing today,”” said Dr. David Alberts, director of the Arizona Cancer Center.
One thousand seven hundred Greek students and 350 community members participated yesterday.
“”The Greek system is just amazing how it pulls together,”” said Alex Miller, a pre-business sophomore.
Members of several Arizona sports teams – including men’s basketball, women’s basketball, track and field, baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, softball and women’s golf – walked alongside participants. The men’s basketball team has walked in past years, but this was the first year that other sports teams joined Olson’s players. Olson said he hopes other athletes continue to participate in the future.
This year, organizers started advertising the event in the Tucson community as well as within the UA. Nick Adamakis, marketing specialist for the Student Union Memorial Center, said planners aim to double the amount of money the CATwalk raises next year.
Organizers also plan to take the concept of the CATwalk to other campuses.
“”We’re going to let some of the other schools in this state get involved,”” Olson said. “”Then, we’re going national with this for women’s cancer.””
Each participant paid $25 to register and received a T-shirt, food, drinks, a coupon book and one entry into a raffle with $10,000 worth of prizes.
The raffle’s grand prize was two men’s basketball season tickets, but fraternities, sororities and sponsors, such as the Marshall Foundation and Nike, donated many other prizes as well.
The CATwalk was created when Bobbi Olson, Lute’s first wife, died after fighting ovarian cancer for 2 1/2 years.
The Bobbi Olson Fund was founded to promote cancer awareness and to raise money for women’s cancer research and treatment.
