Schoolwork is not enough for Jennifer Baebler.

She is also helping find a cure for cancer.

Baebler, president of Eastern’s chapter of the American Cancer Society Colleges Against Cancer, has been working with the group to plan the 2008 Relay For Life.

Founded at the University of Illinois in 2000, CAC is a nationwide association of college students, faculty, and staff dedicated to eliminating cancer.

This is Eastern’s fifth year as a chapter for CAC, and goals are set for this year’s Relay.

“I was very happy when I learned that they hold a Relay for Life every year,” Baebler said. “I have participated in four of them so far.”

Eastern’s chapter of CAC will be hosting an annual kick-off event for Relay for Life today at 7 p.m. in the Oakland Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Relay For Life is an overnight event where teams raise money for cancer awareness prior to and at the event. Teams are made up of local businesses, schools, churches, families and community groups, and designate at least one team member at a time to walk or run on a track throughout the night. The event celebrates cancer survivors while honoring those in the community who lost their battle with cancer. This year it is celebrating 15 years of advancing the fight against cancer throughout Illinois one relay at a time.

“Our goals for the year are to recruit 50 teams, 25 survivors and raise $50,000,” said Lesa Amacher, American Cancer Society representative for Eastern.

“We are very excited for the Relay season to begin as we have had a tremendous amount of interest in our organization this year. The theme we selected is ‘Cure-opoly’ which will be played on all kinds of board games,” she said. “It will be interesting to see how the students incorporate this theme into the Relay.”

Crystal Deisher, former luminaria chair, has been involved with CAC since it started at Eastern. Although she is graduating in December, Deisher said she plans to still stay involved.

“I have been involved for so long that I am sad to have to leave in December,” Deisher said. “I do plan to stay involved by creating an alumni team for the Relay For Life this year.”

Deisher enjoys seeing everyone in support of the cause, especially the cancer survivors.

“One of my favorite events that occurs during the Relay is the survivor lap, because those who are currently battling cancer and those who have survived are able to walk a lap, heads held high, while others cheer them on,” Deisher said. “It lets the walkers know that they are not alone.”

At each school, the organization focuses on four strategic directions: Advocacy, Cancer Education, Survivorship, and Relay For Life. The club’s members vary in class, major and interests, but all share the same strength to support the ACS in finding a cure.

Highlights for this year’s event will be covered at tonight’s meeting and anyone interested in participating in Relay for Life 2008 will have the opportunity to register their teams.

“We will not be having a guest speaker this year, however we will be having a speaker or two at the Relay. Instead we will be hosting an ‘open house’ style meeting,” Amacher said. “We will be registering teams, sharing fundraising and entertainment ideas, registering survivors for the event, selling luminaria bags, showing Relay For Life videos and eating cookies.”

Volunteers are needed to organize and recruit teams, secure community support, coordinate logistics, obtain refreshments and prizes and plan entertainment activities. Students are encouraged to participate in Relay For Life and those who do can receive service hours.

Amacher said “Save Second Base” T-shirts will also be for sale.

Eastern’s chapter of CAC meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Oakland Room of the Union. Anyone interested in joining CAC is welcome to attend.

President of Eastern’s chapter, Jennifer Baebler, said after attending her first meeting she knew she had made the right decision.

“I got started in CAC last year when I transferred from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville,” Baebler said. “My roommate was a member of CAC and told me to go to the first meeting. After the meeting I knew I was joining a good cause.”

Baebler has lost loved ones to cancer and said it is important to her to help those in need and to also remember the loved ones she has lost.

“In just the past three years, I have lost a friend and a great uncle to cancer. I also had a friend and an aunt survive the battle of cancer,” Baebler said. “This organization is very important to me because it is my opportunity to help those that are in need and remember the loved ones I lost.”

Vice President of Eastern’s chapter Andy Laird said that his favorite part about being in CAC is the interaction with the different members and hearing stories about why everyone joined.

“Being Vice President is pretty nice. I can help committees when they need it,” Laird said. “My favorite part is the interaction with all the different members of our group and hearing their stories on how they joined CAC.”

Like Baebler, Laird joined because of his history with breast cancer.

“I joined at the beginning of last semester, Spring ’07, because I also have been impacted by cancer. I lost my mother when I was 16 years old and a junior in high school,” Laird said. “Her fight made me want to fight and since then I have continued fighting against cancer. It is my pleasure to do this.”