Club calls on board to leave independent status
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Members of the township high school's Care to Walk club hope the district cares enough to continue recognizing their organization as an official school club.

Responding to rumors that Care to Walk would be dissolved as its own entity and instead placed under the general heading of the health club, several members of the high school and township organization attended a Board of Education meeting on July 24. The concern lies in the club losing its identity and its significant contributions to the community at large.

"To see it be lost is so heartbreaking. ... Once we made it into a club it was such an achievement that to have that title taken away is devastating," said Ashley Little, who co-founded the high school club with Jill Von Bischoff Shausen in 2000.

Care to Walk was first created by Evelyn Smirnow in 1999 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and was then instituted at the high school, eventually becoming official in 2004. There are about 70 members annually who attend monthly meetings to do community service, receive support or delve into an interest in medical research.

However, the cancer awareness club could soon join other non-cancer-related clubs under one umbrella for a reason unknown at this time; several representatives from the high school could not be reached due to scheduled vacations.

Club members are concerned because thus far, the high school committee has helped organize the annual Care to Walk fundraiser in addition to dances, car washes, bracelet sales, guest speakers and pamphlets. More importantly, according to the club, is their $25,000 donation to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey over the past year. Little said she is concerned any monies raised would be divided among all of the health clubs, therefore not directly helping those afflicted with cancer, which is the purpose of the group. In addition, The Cancer Institute is creating a math and science program focusing on prevention, awareness and treatment, which North Brunswick hopes to benefit from.

Another complication is the fact that the township students would like to assist the other Brunswick school districts in forming their own Care to Walk branches, which would be much more difficult if the North Brunswick division is included under a more general heading.

"This really is an important thing to fight for," Little said. "We are upset because it will not have its own title and we want all of the money we fundraise to go to people with cancer. ... This is not about us, it's about those with cancer and all of the things we're doing for people with cancer."

Schools Superintendent Brian Zychowski said he hopes a decision is rendered by the Aug. 21 Board of Education meeting.