Baylor College of Medicine has supported the Houston Avon Walk since its inception eight years ago. In addition to serving as the official medical sponsor this year, providing care to more than 1,000 participants who walk 39 miles over two days, Baylor again hosted its popular cheer station for the walkers.
Baylor’s Cullen building is located on mile 24.5 of the 26-mile, first-day route. For the last five years, Baylor has hosted a cheer station in front of the building. Along with cheer, Baylor volunteers pass out a popular item that has past participants excited to walk back by every year – ice soaked bandanas.
At this year’s event, held April 25-26, the bandanas were a hit once again with the high heat and humidity index from the Saturday morning rain.
“Our support makes a huge difference for these individuals and they very much appreciate our cheer stop at mile 24,” said Claire Bassett, vice president of communications and community outreach at Baylor, who served as a cheer station volunteer. “Many repeat walkers look forward to it and tell their fellow walkers about the, ‘awesome, ice cold bandanas.’ Thanks to all of our volunteers who joined in the day!”
Included in the cheer volunteers was Riyad Seervai, a first-year student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Baylor. Seervai has helped establish a volunteer group for Baylor students with an interest in oncology-specific fields.
More than 20 Baylor staff members volunteered, including those from the Office of Communications and Community Outreach, graphic communications, the otolaryngology department, Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, security, Duncan Cancer Center and Office of Faculty Affairs.
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