The University will launch a campus-wide program to increase cancer awareness with Grit ’N Wit, a confidence boosting, team-building mental and fitness challenge obstacle course on Thursday, Sept 22. The event is open to all students, faculty, staff and alumni and kicks off the University’s 2022 Homecoming and Family Weekend Sept 22 – 24.
The event is being presented by the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund, a new initiative by Worcester State alumni Gregg and Pamela Rosen, and their children Kaitlyn, Zachary, and Melanie.
“We are really excited to bring Grit ’N Wit to Worcester State,” said Dean Bowen, assistant director/Fitness Center manager, who is coordinating the event. “The messages of health and wellness, teamwork, and overcoming challenges are so important as we try to raise cancer awareness on campus.”
The Rosens established the new fund in 2020 and recently expanded it to build a comprehensive program for cancer awareness, research, education and student support at Worcester State. It includes the establishment of a new internship through the Wellness Center to implement cancer awareness programs, a new Cancer Research Summer Program for student-faculty collaboration and financial assistance for students who have received a cancer diagnosis or have a family member with cancer.
A host of wellness, educational, and awareness activities are being planned for the coming year, starting with Grit ‘N Wit. The first 200 people to register and participate in Grit N Wit will receive a Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund t-shirt.
“We are in the beginning stages of building something that can be so special to Worcester State,” said Gregg Rosen ‘86, who in 2020 was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Follicular Lymphoma, and is undergoing treatment at Mass General Hospital. “This is another piece that can be added to our great story.”
Grit and Wit will be held from 3-7 p.m. adjacent to Lot O and the Wellness Center – look for the Start/Finish Line arches. Participants in Grit N Wit are encouraged to form small teams of 2-5 people to compete. To take part, register here.
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