Lab scientists understand more than anybody how expensive it is to conduct biomedical research.
Lab scientists understand more than anybody how expensive it is to conduct biomedical research. They also know that the money they spend in the lab comes from hard-working taxpayers and generous donors.
Last weekend, MCDB students, staff, and faculty members—many who are searching for cancer cures—took a break from the lab bench and donned running and walking shoes to raise critical cash for cancer research in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Boulder. Together, the team raised $2,480, and the event raised $27,000, which was $7,000 over the goal.
About half of MCDB’s team camped through the night at the event venue, Potts Field track, on CU’s East Campus. “We probably walked over 100 miles around the track,” MCDB graduate student, Jaimee Hoefert, said. Joaquin Espinosa, MCDB associate professor and cancer researcher, won the fleet-footed prize. Espinosa arrived at the event at 1 am and ran 25 MILES around the track, earning him the honor of most laps completed during the event. MCDB graduate student Lavan Khandan got 3rd place at the midnight 5K fun run.
This year’s relay event was just a start of an annual MCDB tradition, Hoefert insists. She’s already told department members to stay tuned for information about next year’s MCDB Relay for Life team.